Faculty Reading Group

Spring 2022 Faculty Reading Group

Faculty reading groups help connect KSU educators interested in building community and developing their teaching through cross-disciplinary conversations. Monthly reading groups will provide an opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful conversations on topics related to teaching, professional development, and trends in higher education. This reading group is primarily intended for Kent State faculty (full or part time); other members of the community are welcome if space is available. Please register to attend by Wednesday, Jan. 19th, 2022. To facilitate interaction, this reading group will be offered synchronously via Teams. A confirmation email and a copy of the book will be sent to all participants before the first meeting.

The Spark of Learning: Energizing College Classroom with the Science of Emotion  by Sarah Rose Cavanagh, 2016, West Virginia University Press, 1st Edition.

In her book, The Spark of Learning, Sarah Rose Cavanagh seeks to enhance student motivation and learning. Through practical recommendations for teaching in the classroom to connections with neuroscientific research on the brain, she posits that if you as an educator want to capture your students’ attention, harness their working memory, bolster their long-term retention, and enhance their motivation, you should consider the emotional impact of your teaching style and course design. She brings to bear a wide range of evidence from the study of education, psychology, and neuroscience, and she provides practical examples of successful classroom activities from a variety of disciplines in secondary and higher education. Facilitator: Michelle Corvette, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Center for Teaching and Learning.

We will read a few chapters at a time for each discussion. Meetings will take place from 12-1pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for Spring 2022. Participants only need to attend one day and may alter days as needed to accommodate schedules:

  • February 1st & 2nd, 2022 (Introduction, Part I - 1. The Science (and Neuroscience) of Your Emotions & 2. The Wellspring: Emotions Enhance Learning) Pages 1-56
  • March 1st & 2nd, 2022 (Part II - 3. Be the Spark: Crafting Your First (and Lasting) Impression) Pages 61-109
  • April 5th & 6th, 2022 (Part II – 4. Burning to Master: Mobilizing Student Efforts & 5. Fueling the Fire: Prolonging Student Persistence) Pages 111-179
  • April 26th & 27th, 2022 (Part II – 6. Best-Laid Plans: When Emotions Challenge or Backfire & Conclusion) Pages 181-215

Register for the Spring 2022 Faculty Reading Group

 

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