Collaborative teaching/learning needed

My morning class is going well. I am enjoying the conversations my students are having with each other. I still think it's a little too much lecture and am trying to get away from that. Next week I will try and jigsaw the chapter and see how it goes. I'll have my groups each become experts on a part of the chapter and then mix 'em up...hope it goes well.

My night class is still going well and I love how motivated they are. It's fun, refreshing, and inspiring to be a part of. I've also been offered another opportunity to work with at risk students and need to start working on learning modules. It sounds like a great opportunity to develop the curriculum.

There's so much to soak up and I'm sure I will randomly remember many things. But I'm hoping as I adjust to adult learners and have a chance to get into the material, I will be more creative in designing learning activities. I am afraid of going to extremes with that and worry I will want to do too much and not actually cover lower levels of Bloom's. I'm sure if it gets to that point, the students will let me know it's not going well. I think it's a skill good professors possess- being creative, but not forgetting how to make sure material is learned. I also think I should be reading some type of scholarly journals and even some business journal type of stuff to bring in contemporary and relevant material. Maybe that's a reach for this time, but I'm hoping I get to try my hand at this again.

The one thing I'm seeing in post-secondary ed. is that it's like letting a fox loose in a hen house. There's not a lot of guidance and also not a whole lot of concern. I was given the textbook, some materials that were previously used, and then turned loose. I'm not sure if that's how it is everywhere, but I think there ought to be some sort of mentorship for new faculty. I also think it's probably because it's a community college and it might also have to do with being an adjunct member. I still think even an orientation would help. It just caught me by surprise.

Also, as I walk around the halls and get a chance to look into classrooms, it's kind of sad. There's a lot of chalk and talk and glazed over eyes. Maybe it has to do with the content, but I feel like not many people are really fostering life-long learning. I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be, but I feel like learning involves activity. I don't want to talk for 50 minutes. I'd run out of things to say. I think interaction is really important, it helps develop communication skills and the ability to work as a team.

So I am thoroughly enjoying myself and really trying to figure out ways to engage the students through activities. I'm glad to have collaborative learning book. I am going to keep that book handy as I develop lessons.

More to follow.