Blog » The Classroom Experience


Students’ Messages to Teachers

Posted Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 by Maryellen Weimer

Last week I participated in a beginning of the academic year event for faculty. It included a panel of bright, articulate upper-division students. From the audience came this question: “What are the things faculty do that you really hate?”


Classroom Climates

Posted Thursday, June 17th, 2010 by Maryellen Weimer

I did a workshop this week on climates for learning. It’s a session I love doing. Nobody argues with the need to have one in the classroom and everywhere else around campus. But most of us haven’t gotten past the metaphor (we aren’t talking about the “weather” in our classroom even though we do regularly refer to the “atmosphere” in class and the “environment” on campus). When we refer to the climate for learning what are we talking about?


Ratings: Working on the Cynicism

Posted Thursday, April 29th, 2010 by Maryellen Weimer

If you’re on a semester calendar, this academic year is winding down. As courses come to a close, it’s time for those end-of-course ratings which many of us administer with some cynicism.


Teaching Styles and Personae

Posted Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 by Maryellen Weimer

I’m trying out content from my new book at some of the workshops I’m doing this month. The discussion we had about teaching style and teaching personae at Georgia State College and University got me thinking more about the topic. I’m convinced useful distinctions can be made between the two.


Interesting Interview about Atttention

Posted Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 by Maryellen Weimer

Last week I heard an interesting interview with Winifred Gallagher, author of a new book, Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life. She’s a science writer and the book looks at recent brain research on attention and focus. She was so articulate, knowledgeable and able to explicate complicated research. I’ve put her book near the top of my “must read” list.