Though I am relatively new to the field of collegiate teaching, sometimes I reminisce on how my traditional college classroom setting had a certain aura about it; and if asked to describe what it was which gave this personification to it, then I would say, the stories, experiences shared through the professor but more importantly the way it was told, with excitement and vigor. As a retired military serviceman, I have tried Stanley’s notion and several others, though sometimes in the military class they may have felt captive.
Maya Angelou’s quote of “people will forget what you said and people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel,” is a strong message about societies and how information is processed. There’s plenty of research conducted and methodologies about conducting online instruction, instructional design, curriculum design etc., but Stanley Pogrow is on to something and assists us by taking a step back, looking to see if we are reaching students, make an assessment and then to let our creative side flourish.
So why is having fun appear to have such negative connotations attached to it?
Thanks and looking forward to your feedback.
Michael