Translating my thoughts into words.
But it is behind me now. Last week we had our three day orientation for new Scholars. It is a fun, fun time, but leaves very little time for anything else, like blogging. One of the highlights for me (and I hope the students) is “Late Night With the Dean” where we do a Letterman style show with yours truly hosting. Later I will post some of the audio including my monologue. 
I snapped this pic just before going on stage. The State Theatre does an incredible job of hosting us. In addition to the Penn State Lion joining us (try interviewing someone who doesn’t speak!) President Spanier stopped by for a few magic tricks.
Today things start to resume their normal course. So perhaps another post or two later in the day. In any event, enjoy this Monday!
I haven’t read it, even though it has been around for ages, but D’Arvy Norman’s Flickr post has me intrigued. Anyone familiar with the work?
In their book Teaching as a Subversive Activity, Postman and Weingartner were talking about inquiry-based education, and how throwing out the “curriculum” and instead having students ask genuine questions that they would then work to answer together – that this would provide a powerful, relevant, and highly personal experience and a richer education. When I got to page 61, I did a doubletake. Was there a misprint? Did a vandal insert a blank page? No. They left the page blank intentionally – not even a page number – for the readers to add their own questions. It’s a simple technique, but one that profoundly changes the experience of “reading” a book, much as genuine inquiry can profoundly change the experience of “education”.
UPDATE: The Beloit list is available from their website here: http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2012.php
This week our new first-year students move in and have orientation. The Chronicle of Higher Ed is reporting on the Beloit College has released its “Mind-Set List” for those born in 1990.
The two men who compile the list—Tom McBride, a professor of English, and Ron Nief, director of public affairs—note that while many things have changed since the Class of 2012 was born, some things seem remarkably similar to the world as it was in 1990: “Rising fuel costs were causing airlines to cut staff and flight schedules; Big 3 car companies were facing declining sales and profits; and a president named Bush was increasing the number of troops in the Middle East in the hopes of securing peace.”
This is a subscription only site, but for the next few days you can use this link to see the full list. In the meantime, some of my favorites:
3. They have always been looking for Carmen Sandiego.
6. Shampoo and conditioner have always been available in the same bottle.
23. Schools have always been concerned about multiculturalism.
25. There have always been gay rabbis.
26. Wayne Newton has never had a mustache.
29. Roseanne Barr has never been invited to sing the national anthem again.
55. 98.6 degrees F, or otherwise, has always been confirmed in the ear.
