Eight faculty share their failure stories on this special #100th episode of Teaching in Higher Ed.
CV of Failures
- Johannes Haushofer’s CV of Failures
- HBR article about Johannes Haushofer
Quotes
At the time, I felt like I had to know everything in order to be a good teacher, so instead of admitting that I didn’t know the answer to the student’s question, I dismissed it.
—Cameron Hunt-McNabbI think I understand way better now what kinds of issues my students think are important.
—Doug McKeeI strongly identified with that strain of perfectionism that insists that unless every student in every class feels like every moment was a rich and profound learning experience, then I have failed.
—Jeff Hittenberger
Guest Stories
1) Katie Linder
- Didn’t allow discomfort in the classroom and rushed too quickly through it.
- Check out the Research in Action Podcast
2) Jeff Hittenberger
- Felt like he had failed at the end of each semester.
3.) Angela Jenks
- Didn’t know how much the class textbooks cost.
4.) Josh Eyler
- Gave quizzes just to test that students read.
- Read the conversation in Storify for Twitter
5.) Michelle Miller
- Didn’t take care of a problem before it escalated.
6.) James Lang
- Was not clear enough in assignment criteria.
7.) Cameron Hunt-McNabb
- Thought she had to know everything to be good teacher.
7.) Maha Bali
- Laughed at student’s suffering … almost.
8.) Doug McKee
- Didn’t understand what issues his students thought were important.
- TIHE episode 045: Calibrating our teaching (Aaron Daniel Annas)
Recommendations
Books:
Janine Utell: Dear Committee Members* by Julie Schumacher
José Bowen: Teaching Naked* by José Bowen
Sean Micael Morris: Savvy* by Ingrid Law
Cameron Hunt McNabb: Tina Fey’s advice to “Say yes” in her memoir, Bossy Pants*
Amy Collier: Quotes Anne Lamott: “These are the words I want on my gravestone: that I was a helper, and that I danced,” from her book Grace (Eventually)*
Tools:
Doug McKee: Piazza*
Aaron Daniel Annas: Amazon Echo*
Teaching inspiration:
Rebecca Campbell: Be kind to students. Don’t make assumptions.
Linda Nielsen: Cultivate your courage by trying out things you’re afraid of.
Lee Skallerup Bessette: Be hopeful. Be optimistic. And give your students the benefit of the doubt right from the start.
Doug McKee: Try poster sessions with students.
Peter Newbury: Get yourself into a learning community. Get on Twitter.
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