Tuesday Teaching Question is a regular feature that attempts to get a conversation going about teaching. Typically, the questions attempt to be very practical and begin with an excessively long preamble. TTQ is brought to you by CAST. If you have a question that you’re dying to have featured in an upcoming TTQ, e-mail me at hwc_cast@ccc.edu.
Here’s last week’s, back by unpopular demand. 🙂
Yesterday (now one week ago) seemed to be a day full of waiting…waiting for the Red Line to get to work, waiting for various websites to load at HWC, waiting on line (yeah, I said “on line” instead of “in line”; I’m from NY) to submit my midterm grades (they’re due today BTW), waiting for students to stop in during office hours, etc. If you’re like me, when you’re waiting, your mind starts to wander. Today’s TTQ is inspired by the time I spent waiting.
I was thinking about our new president’s letter and his blog (and now his 2nd entry about academic “coaching”). I jokingly asked the class I was teaching yesterday if the building felt any different. They asked me why I’d asked this. I went on to tell them that we had a new president. They asked me if this was a good thing. I said, “so far, so good.” I remain optimistic. Anyway, here’s the ending of President Laackman’s letter. Maybe we can jump start the “getting to know you” process.
Our mission is central to who we are. All of us bring that mission to life. I am trying to learn how you do that and what you need to do an even better job for our students. I look forward to working with you to support our students and prepare them to realize their dreams.
The Harold Lounge 
This post was so unpopular that no one caught my blatant typo. I’ll leave it in. See if you can find it. If you’re an editor, please don’t correct it.
“Coaching” not “couching.” When and where do I claim my prize?
I knew I could count on an English prof. to find the typo. I’ve got a granola bar with your name on it if you’d like. I can now correct it.
Answer to question #1:
I need to do a better job at assessing my students. Sure would be helpful to have a TA to assist with that task. Time is not on my side (or maybe I’m not good at managing time).
Answer to question #2:
I like interacting with peeps on The Lounge and learning from ’em. I’ve used The Lounge as a source of faculty development. Take that DWFDW!