HigherEdJobs Author in Residence
Conversations with Great TeachersWhat makes a great teacher? How do teachers connect with students? Why do teachers choose to teach? If you've ever thought about these questions or are interested in learning insight into the world of teaching, Dr. Bill Smoot's book, Conversations with Great Teachers, will interest you. Our most current author in residence has a written an intriguing book of interviews with educators of diverse backgrounds. Dr. Smoot shares what he has learned from various teachers from elementary school to university professors and others outside k-12 and higher education. It is a delightful book that offers the reader appreciation for the ever important role of the teacher.
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Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Expertise and Meta-Lessons: Two Elements of Great Teaching
by Bill SmootI have always hated that H. L. Mencken quote-become-a-cliché, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." What galls me is not just its cavalier anti-intellectualism and mindless denigration of teachers, but the fact that it is a lie.
Indeed, when I traveled the country interviewing great teachers, I found that behind so many great teachers there lies a great doer. -
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Passion and Awareness: What Great Teachers Have in Commonby Bill SmootJustice Potter Stewart famously said that while he could not define pornography, "I know it when I see it." Great teaching may be like that. After interviewing 51 great teachers across the country for my book Conversations with Great Teachers (Indiana University Press), I still could not formulate a definition. I could, however, see common qualities. -
Thursday, January 31, 2013
It's the Teachers, Stupidby Bill SmootSeveral years ago I set out on a quest to find and interview a number of great teachers across America. One of these was a fencing teacher who had recently retired at the age of 90. During our interview he asked me to pick up a fencing foil, and then he put both his hands around mine to adjust my grip. The new way of holding the foil did feel better. When he removed his hands, I had the strange sensation that I could still feel his touch. I thought back on that moment often, and it became a metaphor for what I came to understand as the acid test of teaching: success lies in what lingers, what lasts, how the student is forever changed by the experience.
Previous Blogs
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Turf Wars: How Congressional Committees Claim Jurisdiction
In Turf Wars: How Congressional Committees Claim Jurisdiction, Dr. King discusses how jurisdictions are able to fluctuate and how turf battles occur and their potential effects. Drawing on his expertise in these matters, our next author in residence will discuss how the potential results of the upcoming presidential and congressional elections may affect higher education policy. |
We're Losing our Minds: Rethinking American Higher Education
According to Richard P. Keeling and Richard H. Hersh, co-authors of We're Losing our Minds: Rethinking American Higher Education, "America is being held back by the quality and quantity of learning in college. This is a true educational emergency." Based on years of experience working as faculty, administrators and consultants in academia, Keeling and Hersh offer an honest and straightforward dissection of the educational system, but also propose meaningful solutions on how to overcome this crisis in higher education and make our students of today the sound leaders of tomorrow. |
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The Innovative University
The Innovative University, written by Clayton M. Christensen and Henry J. Eyring, discusses how universities can be cutting-edge in their thinking and functioning, while still maintaining tradition. We are fortunate to have Henry Eyring as our next Author In Residence blogger for 2011. A recent review of the book states, "This superbly documented book is a must read for anyone who cares about America's universities and colleges and the invaluable role they play in our contemporary society. Henry Eyring and Clayton Christensen remind us of higher education's history and thoughtfully examine the critical strands of its DNA that require 're-engineering' to insure survival and good health for our richly diverse system. Perhaps the best feature of this volume is that it goes beyond analysis to offer what is possible through models that are scalable, transferable, and responsive to the needs of learning, discovery, and engagement." |
The Heart of Higher Education
The Heart of Higher Education, written by Parker Palmer and Arthur Zajonc, inspires the reader to look beyond the traditional thinking of higher education and examine the student as a whole. We are fortunate to have Arthur Zajonc as our first Author In Residence blogger for 2011. A recent review of the book states, "Palmer and Zajonc have issued a compelling call for change and renewal in higher education. They show us how colleges and universities can be transformed by taking a more integrated approach to teaching and learning that focuses on the inner lives of their students." As stated by the authors, "The Heart of Higher Education is for all who are new to the field of integrative education, all who want to deepen their understanding of its challenges and prospects, and all who want to practice and promote this vital approach to teaching and learning on their campuses." |
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The Great American University
HigherEdJobs is pleased to introduce the Fall Semester 2010 Author in Residence blogger, Jonathan R. Cole, and his book, The Great American University. A review from The Economist states, "His book is really three, each a magisterial work. First, he sets out an admirably comprehensive history of how America's great universities came into being. Then, he trawls for examples of the enriching inventiveness of these institutions, listing the extraordinary range of innovations in technology and in thinking that have sprung from their research. Finally, he outlines the forces that threaten America's research universities." |
Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System
Peter Weddle's book, Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System, has been called the What Color is Your Parachute? for the 21st century. It explores what it takes to achieve and sustain career success in the modern American workplace. Using physical fitness as a metaphor, it introduces both a new way of looking at work and a regimen of practical activities to increase the strength, reach and endurance of one's career. |

Bill Smoot grew up in Maysville, Ky., and received his bachelor's degree degree from Purdue University and his doctorate in philosophy from Northwestern University. He has published essays, philosophic articles and short fiction in a number of publications. In 2009 he set out to find and interview great teachers in all areas of education, both inside and outside the conventional classroom. The interview...