Category: Education Article

Appreciating Our Colleagues

Eliza

This article first appeared in Maryellen Weimer’s blog in November 2009. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved.

I appreciate what my colleagues do for me.

I have colleagues who indulge my need to blow off steam. Some student behavior is nothing short of outrageous, some department policies are nothing short of senseless, some department heads are nothing other than shortsighted, and some colleagues never experience a shortage of pessimism. My best colleagues know when I need to rant; they listen and then gently encourage me to move on.

I have colleagues who help me understand when I don’t. I talk and they ask questions. I’ve learned to appreciate those colleagues who have more questions than answers—the ones who ask the questions I haven’t thought of, which often lead me to answers I haven’t considered.

I have colleagues who help me put things in perspective. Like many (dare I say all?)

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Taking Time to Refresh, Recharge, and Recommit

Eliza

This article first appeared in the Teaching Professor on May 17, 2017. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved.

I continue to worry that we devalue the affective dimensions of teaching—the emotional energy it takes to keep delivering high-quality instruction.

Most faculty are on solid ground in terms of expertise. We know and, in most cases, love our content. We don’t get tired of it—oh, maybe we do a bit in those foundation courses, but the content isn’t what wears us down; it’s the daily grind, having to be there every class session, not just physically present but mentally and emotionally engaged as well. Good teaching requires more energy than we think it does.

I’m posting this because it is the end of the academic year, and many us are feeling tired and used up. That makes it a good time for a gentle reminder: take time to refresh. Whatever time

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Top 10 Qualities Of A Great Facilitator

Eliza

Top 10 Qualities Of A Great Facilitator—Infographic

How to be a good facilitator

Internal facilitators can save time and reduce the complexity of getting an outside facilitator up-to-speed on your business, internal language, team members and nuance of operations. Just because they are a great leader doesn’t mean that they have all the qualities of good facilitator and can drive you to the desired outcome of your planning session.  At first glance, it appears a good move, so let me get you P-A-I-D U-P on the additional reasons to get your senior leaders out of the facilitation process:

P – Participation.  No one can fully participate in the process and discussions while also holding the duties of facilitating – no matter how good their skill. Using a facilitator who isn’t part of the session creates an “even” playing field, allowing all individuals to participate fully.

A – Accountable. Each participant

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An Excellent Addition to Any Student’s Toolkit

Eliza

Students Under Stress

In recent years, there has been a definite increase in the pressure placed on students. Competition for jobs means that more emphasis rests on academic success than ever before. Greater fees for education exacerbates this: given that thousands of pounds might be invested in getting a degree, many students simply must succeed to stand a chance of paying for their education.

So, students are in search of ways to do better. While most rely on coffee to power their efforts, some are taken by a relatively new phenomenon: study drugs.

Distributed illegally and bought online, ‘study drugs’ are prescription medications (often Modafinil) that are used off-label to keep students awake, and ostensibly support their mental performance. These drugs can be dangerous, as they’re unregulated, may be adulterated, and can cause side-effects for students who take them. Furthermore, some can carry hefty fines or even prison time if … Read more

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Tips to Increase Productivity at Work

Eliza

How to Increase Productivity in a Working Place

High performance in companies and other institutions is the key to success, and needs to be kept on the highest level possible. There are many ways in which one can increase productivity within an institution, and this takes several measures. If these measures are implemented properly, then one can expect high levels of production at the end of a working day or period.

1. Designate favorable working times

Performance can be increased by identifying favorable times to handle specific tasks. Many people prefer handling technical and hard work in the mornings, as the mind is fresh and thinking straight. You can involve participants into working harder during the mornings and let them work freely in the afternoons.

2. Best goals to achieve each day

Most people are motivated differently, but with goals set, they can achieve higher productivity within a very short

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