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| In this new bi-weekly column, “Caught in the Act,” Denison faculty share neat techniques their humble colleagues use in their classes. This week, Lori Kumler and Hoda Yousef caught Cheryl McFarren in the act of some great teaching!
As a professor of theater, it’s crucial for Cheryl’s students to be fully present- both mind and body. Like many of us, smartphones were becoming a distraction. After participating in last summer’s reading group on “Stolen Focus”, Cheryl decided to be proactive. At the beginning of each class, she and her students gather around a basket (shown above) and recite: “It can wait. They can wait. I can wait.” Then, they collectively place their phones in the basket until the end of class. While it took some time to warm up to this practice, Cheryl and her students are now seeing the benefits and appreciating the opportunity to be totally present in their learning experience. Interested in a copy of the book? We still have a few left- stop by the Center to pick one up. |