At least it feels that way this week. Having promised to post something on Monday, I feel a bit of guilt about being several days late with this. After reading the IHE article about preparing doctoral students for the reality of teaching, I had the same reaction as Sharon Mitchler and others--what had been proposed isn't new, though it is certainly a good idea. I have wanted to develop a program with master's level students which would bring them in to teach a section of freshman comp--my school would provide mentoring/supervision and the student's school would provide credit, theory and pedagogical support-- a teaching practicum, in other words. So the grad students would be using their experience (paid as adjuncts, BTW) to learn how to teach, they'd be mentored by someone at the host college and be able to participate in a course that would help them frame the experience in terms of theoretical and professional perspectives.
Regarding the NYT story about poorly prepared students, I will write a letter, just as soon as my life clears up a bit. We are in the process of selling both of our houses, and believe me, that, plus our moving two weeks ago, has chewed up all of my free time.
Clancy at Culture Cat has linked to a new site called Basic Writing.org , created by doctoral student Steven Climer. Here's what he says:
BasicWriting.org was spawned as an effort to organize my notes and study for my Qualifying Exam at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.
As a kinesthetic learner, I'm not able to just sit and read to absorb the material. I have to manipulate it, work with it, and be interactive with it in order for it to make sense. Often times, this is how a basic writer thinks as well.
I didn't want to keep re-inventing the wheel so I put my talents as a web designer to use and created a portal that anyone interested in the field of basic writing can use for research and ideas for classroom strategies. I hope others pursuing basic writing will get some use out of this website, and that the field will keep growing, maturing, and getting the respect it sorely deserves.
Here's what I like--his bringing his own learning style to bear on the creation of the site and relating it to how basic writers learn, which can seem like a large jigsaw puzzle of words and ideas that need to be examined and moved around a few times to get the right "fit." Those of us who aren't kinesthetic learners can look at the site and see a practical application of how this style plays out in terms of organizing information.
I'm impressed. I wonder if Steven might not include some blogs in his list of resources. There are a few out there that I might suggest. . .
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