Patricia Barnett

Hello Mark:  The days of "I learned this way, so you can too" are over.  I wish I had a crystal ball to see where technology will take classroom instruction.  Generation X and Y students now work collaboratively with Baby Boomers to teach the older learners how to use technology.  The Baby Boomers share their skils of getting the job done with younger students.  I only wish that I had some students from the Silent Generation in my classroom, so I could watch the eldest learners attempt to influence the other generational students to use more innovated creativity to reuse/recycle… >>>

I agree- the more diverse presentations, the better.  I would like to learn more about technology advances such as Facebook or Twitter.  I am lost when I hear other instructors discussing such alternatives.  For example: One of the instructors had the students create a blog.  I am not exactly sure how a blog would fit into my coursework (English). 

Greetings Mr. Hollowell: Two concepts interest me about instruction/coaching:  1) Generational differences for learning and 2) Brain research and learning. I often wonder if the two aren't connected more than we realize.  As a member of the Baby-boomers, I believe my learning of truly evolving while I work with students and instructors from Generations X and Y learners!

Hello Gwendolyn: The college where I teach is fairly new (2 years) and our alumni services is in its infancy.  Where do you see an issue (so we can be aware of a potential problem)?  Also- what I find as a missing retention component is the fact that many professionals haven't had actualy best practices education courses.  Sometimes, professional development changes the minds of a couple of instructors, but most appear to nod their heads in agreement and then go back to old practices of solid-lecture.