Episode 6 Rethinking Teaching: Collaborative Curves, Gamification, and Kindness with Missi Patterson

Guest: Missi Patterson, Ph.D.

Professor Of Psychology, Austin Community College
Past President of Texas Community College Teachers Association
Piper Award Nominee for Austin Community College
NISOD Excellence Award for Teaching

Disclaimer: The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast.

This episode features an educator who has led and facilitated a Great Teaching Retreat at her institution and participated as both facilitator and participant in the National Great Teachers Seminar. This week starts with discussing the distinction between seminars and retreats, emphasizing the rationale behind their nomenclature.

Our guest introduces her innovative "collaborative curve" for exam scoring, encouraging group effort and collective problem-solving, leading to a deeper understanding of the subject matter through peer interaction. The discussion then moves to the importance of large group projects and effective grouping strategies, highlighting the use of group work surveys to optimize dynamics and focus on goals, grading, and timing.

Missi shares her insights into gamification in classrooms, providing examples like using clickers in human sexuality courses to reduce discomfort and encourage participation. She discusses creative gamification techniques such as giant Jenga cubes and flyswatters for exam reviews, emphasizing the joy of making learning fun.

The conversation also covers Missi's transition from punitive practices to a kindness-focused teaching approach, stressing the importance of a supportive classroom environment. Steve discusses how self-perception and cultural roots influence teaching styles and classroom management. This leads to a discussion on the value of the Great Teachers approach for adjuncts and veteran teachers, highlighting the importance of learning and listening to others. Missi concludes by pointing out that brilliance in teaching may be overrated, advocating for practical strategies and continuous improvement over innate intelligence.

Join us as we engage in conversation with Missi.

Resources:

Student Engagement Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty 2nd Edition
by Elizabeth F. Barkley (Author), Claire H. Major (Author)

About the National Great Teachers Movement

Other Great Teachers Resources

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