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Maryellen Weimer summarizes a journal article by Ann Taylor, an associate professor of chemistry at Wabash College, in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. Dr. Taylor asked students for their top 10 reasons why they don’t want to work in groups and they offered this list (Dr. Weimer edited slightly). How would you respond?
- It’s hard to focus during small group exercises.
- We are always rushed.
- Group exercises mean we do the work and the teacher doesn’t.
- We’re trying to work on material we didn’t understand in the reading.
- If we want to work in groups, we can form them on our own; in class we would rather hear someone who understands the material explain it.
- We’re all confused; getting in a group merely compounds the confusion.
- I don’t like the people in my group.
- Group members don’t show up or don’t contribute.
- We’d get through more material if you lectured.
- I can’t sleep during small group exercises.
In a ProfHacker post on the Chronicle of Higher Education’s site is an interesting article of maintaining the professional behaviors that we have in person to our online selves. Interestingly, this reflects the use of technology as an extension of self.
Excerpt:
“Take, for example, the case of Dr. Gloria Gadsden, an associate professor at East Stroudsburg University. About a year ago, Dr. Gadsden wrote on Facebook that she had a good day at school, and “didn’t want to kill even one student,” adding “Friday was a different story.” She wrote this comment—surely in jest—in a space that she believed to be private. However, it wasn’t. A third party read her comment and notified university authorities. Dr. Gadsden was suspended, and ultimately reinstated, after the incident, but the hit to her professional reputation is clear.”
Thoughts?
Full article: http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/think-before-you-tweet-or-blog-or-update-a-status/30949
This article was shared by Cheryl D. White, Extension Program Coordinator at Wayne State University. Got your own story? Share it with me.
Dr. Salvador shared a piece with ACPA recently which was written by Dr. Kuh regarding the consolidation of ACPA and NASPA. Knowing that consolidation would strongly affect MCPA, I urge your comments and discussion. Here is an excerpt and a link:
“So, color me unequivocally in favor of bringing ACPA and NASPA together to form one overarching association to unify the profession. And the sooner the better. Consolidation is long overdue.”
“he accomplishments of ACPA and NASPA are many and both groups have served the field and their members well. But the world order has changed. Neither staying separate nor consolidation guarantees a bright future for the profession or the millions of students and faculty at colleges and universities across the country who benefit in known and unknown ways from the contributions of student affairs staff.”
http://acpa-president.blogspot.com/2011/02/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
A short message to those future student affairs professionals:
This may sound like a commercial, but don’t worry: there’s still time to find a student affairs program. In the past couple weeks, I have received e-mails from institutions with student affairs programs: The University of West Georgia and Salem State University, letting me know that there are still programs looking for students. And for those that aren’t aware, ACPA a maintains a directory of student affairs programs, including our extremely fantastic programs here in Michigan.
A year ago, when I was making my decisions in applying, when I was stressing out over application responses, and nearly screaming over the thought of whether I would have funding or not, I was given the best advice a future student affairs professional could receive: trust the process.
The fact of the matter is, there are many different dimensions of making the decision to go into student affairs and which professional preparation program. The good news is, no matter where you go, student affairs programs are many different institutions. Location doesn’t have to tie you to one place. Funding is available at many different institutions, and in fact, is required for a lot of student affairs, higher education, and college student personnel programs. Student affairs professionals and future professionals alike tend to be the nicest people in the world! So, if you’re still thinking about making the leap to a career in student affairs, weigh your options. Some of them can be found in the links above. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask one of us!
-Tom Wesley
MCPA Social Media Chair and MSU SAA Graduate Student
This article offers advice and strategies for academic advising professionals who are interested in integrating social media into their advising design. Click here for the full article.
Unification planning continues between the governing bodies of ACPA and NASPA. One area of consideration that has not been specifically addressed is the reconciliation of the different organization structures represented by ACPA and NASPA.
NASPA is organized by regions. Michigan falls within the IV East Region. This region also includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario. For an overview of the NASPA Regions click here. Whereas, ACPA operates on a state structure (and our international colleagues operate within a regional structure).
At the ACPA summer leadership meetings this past July (held in Louisville, KY) I had the chance to speak with leaders from various state and international divisions. Some have already formed or had long standing partnerships with the NASPA region connected to their state. Whereas, some state divisions expressed anxiety and concern regarding the outcome of unification, and the potential impact it would have on their long standing status as a state region.
Although I am not aware of our history in collaborating with the NASPA IV-East region, I believe we fall into the later group – a long standing ACPA state division. I know that MCPA has an excellent record and reputation of maintaining a solid membership, developing and delivering excellent professional development events, and providing advocacy, leadership and research in the arena of college student education.
What does unification mean mean for MCPA? Will one approach of organization win over the other in this process of unification? Or, will some hybrid between regions and states emerge?
At our Leadership Team meeting (January 2010) we discussed this matter. Unfortunately, there is no clear indication how this part of unification will transpire. One action item was to contact our State and International Division Coordinator, Sandra Emerick (Cleveland State University) to see if there has been any information shared on this front.
In addition, I would like to go to our state leadership meetings as the annual ACPA Conference in March 2010 and express the ideas, views and concerns of our members on this matter. Please feel free to share your thoughts, questions and concerns on this issue here or send them directly to me at emullen@mcpaweb.org
We will keep you informed regarding any updates related to the organization structure proposed in the unification process, and plan to play a leadership role in this discussion.
Eric Mullen, MCPA President, 2009/10
