02138 Dissects Faust

The new magazine, which I've referenced before, is all about Harvard. It's pretty slick and, so far, pretty good. In this latest issue, Richard Bradley, no stranger to everything Harvard, takes an intimate look at Drew Faust, the university's new president. He interviewed me for the piece, and quotes me as such: Faust was a popular teacher. "There wasn't a dull moment in her lectures, and you'd marvel at her ability to hold her class's attention," says Mark Drozdowski, a former student who is now the director of a college foundation. But for all her expertise, Drozdowski says, Faust was still approachable. "She didn't seem to have a big ego," he recalls. "She didn't have the descending-from-Mount-Olympus kind of attitude." Fair enough. That last line contains what is probably the longest adjective I've ever uttered. Definitely worth a read.

(Source: 02138 Magazine)

Multimedia Learning in Online Classes

The effective use of technology is essential for students learning with the assistance of multimedia programs. I recently published an article on About.com about this topic. Here's a blurb:

"A growing number of online universities offer multimedia learning components such as chat rooms, collaborative projects, and web conferencing. These multimedia components can help online students effectively master the subject matter. But, multimedia learning also has a downside: inexperienced students can easily become distracted with the platform instead of the subject. It's easy to waste time chatting on course message boards or tuning out a podcast lecture."

To find out more about the effective use of multimedia learning check out: Multimedia Learning in Online Classes.

What Holds You Back from Learning Effectively?

A new Lifehack article discusses the seven "deadly mindsets" that keep people from learning effectively. Number four on the list is the fear that others are smarter than you. I can relate to this fear. My first couple months of graduate school were nerve-wracking as I sat across from peers I was sure were brighter, more knowledgeable, and more accomplished. Fortunately, as I got to know the other students, I realized that it wasn't a competition...we were all just trying to do our personal best. Worrying about how I compare was holding me back from exploring my talents and excelling in my own personal strengths. Here's what Lifehack has to say about fear number four:

"The truth is there is always somebody better than you are. And the only way you will have an edge is through endless and continuous learning. It is your battle, not a battle with others."

To read about how to defeat this and the other six ineffective viewpoints check out 7 Deadly Mindsets That Hold You Back From Learning Effectively.