Twitter and teaching and learning

Hi All,

Well, one of my former students and a longtime friend finally convinced me to get on twitter.

I don't think I'll become a frequent flier on there, but am adding it to my social media toolbox.

Anyway, I'm curious -- have you used twitter at all in your teaching or learning? Has it impacted your life as a student or professor? I'm looking for ideas!

Be well!

Harriet

Cool tools -- Cacoo

I've been looking for software (ideally free software) that I can use to diagram a theoretical model that I'm developing. I've tried a few, but they haven't worked well. Last night, I found Cacoo. It's free, and easy (drop and drag the shapes, icons, lines, etc.). So far so good!

Have you discovered any new online tools this summer? If so, please let us know in the comment section below!

Good luck with the work!

Harriet

p.s. I am not affiliated with Cacoo -- I simply am trying the tool and liking it, so I'm passing it on to you.

Cross-country visit -- "P is for Problem Solving -- I love this post!!!!

Today we're heading across the country to visit my colleague Melanie Booth! Melanie writes the blog Prattlenog (a wonderful blog for adult students) and I love her July 22 post -- check it out:

"P" is for Problem Solving

Cheers!

Harriet

If you could learn about one thing....

Happy Wednesday!

So if you could learn about one thing that is unrelated to school or career, what would it be? My list is long.... one of the things I'd like to learn more about is birds. I work from home a fair amount and see a variety of birds outside our back window -- and realized, I could be looking them up and learning something new.

Last week, we saw a bright yellow bird that I later identified as an American Goldfinch. I have a Smithsonian Handbook on birds -- a hefty guide with good information, including bird behavior and phonetic spellings of the bird's call. The Handbook had this to say about the American Goldfinch (and it made me laugh, so I'm sharing it with you):

"In late summer, the breeding season, males engage in aerial displays of exaggerated roller coaster-like flights across the sky, singing po-tato-chip with each downward glide." (p. 723).

OK, that might be the funniest description of mating behavior ever!

So, if you could learn about one thing... what would it be?

Cheering you on in your work!

Harriet

Cool Mondays!

Here's your moment of cool.

Good luck with the work this week!

Harriet

Saturday morning video -- Study Like a Scholar

A spoof on that very strange Old Spice commercial:

Study Like a Scholar

Happy Weekend!

Harriet

Summer reading -- Broaden and Build your repertoire

Hi All,

Many of you know I'm a fan of Barbara Fredrickson's work. She is one of the leading thinkers in Positive Psychology. Following is a brief (five-page) article regarding the value of positive emotions and the broaden and build theory (one of my favorite theories!). This has the potential to help you in school, work, and other parts of life.

The Value of Positive Emotions: The Emerging Science of Positive Psychology is Coming to Understand Why It's Good to Feel Good

Cheering you on in your work!

Harriet

Photo by HLS

Cool Mondays!

Good luck with the work this week!

Harriet

Saturday morning cartoon -- Peanuts baseball

Happy Summer! And all the best with your work!

Peanuts -- Ready to Pitch

cheers,

Harriet

Career Development -- the one-pager

Hi All,

I saw the following career planning strategy in The Chronicle of Higher Education, and thought that some of you might find it helpful.

Career Advice: Your Career on One Page

Be well!

Harriet

Photo by HLS

Cool Mondays!

Hi All,

Welcome back to The Encouragement Lounge summer feature -- Cool Mondays! Photos from this year's snow storm to help you think cool during the hottest days of summer.

Be well and good luck with the work!

Harriet

photo by HLS

Saturday morning video -- Fireworks

Hi All,

Happy July 4 weekend!

Fireworks

All the best,

Harriet