Episode 32: Why it's So Hard to Change the Way We Teach . . . and What to Do About It with Dr. Caitlin Faas

lecture breakers podcast teaching and learning in higher education




Description:

Dr. Caitlin Faas joins us to talk about how to re-frame how we think about change so we can create more engaging and meaningful learning experiences. 

One of the common themes on this show has been the idea of change. Breaking up our lectures means changing the way we think about teaching, learning, and our role in the classroom. Sometimes it means changing our students’ perceptions of what real, meaningful learning looks like. And sometimes it means encouraging our colleagues to change the way they design courses.

Today’s guest is Dr. Caitlin Faas. She’s a professor and department head, and she’s also a certified life coach who works with academics who want to make some kind of changes in their life.

Caitlin’s combination of experiences in teaching, higher education administration, and coaching make her powerhouse when it comes to talking about change.

In this episode, she helps us re-think our relationship with change and how to create healthy attitudes around risk, failure, and experimenting in the classroom.

What you'll learn in this episode:

  • The 3 things our brains are wired to do that make change difficult, especially when we're talking about changing the way we teach!

  • How to encourage faculty to get on board and try new things with their teaching by re-framing the conversation around a continuity perspective.
  • Tips to help students navigate changes in their roles and expectations in student-centered learning environments.
  • How to prevent getting trapped in confusion or overwhelm when deciding to make a change or a decision

 

Barbi's Favorite Quotes:

  • "Our brains are wired to not take risks or make changes."

  • "The brain is wired to do three things [and] changing the classroom goes against all three of those things."

  • "Discomfort is the currency of our dreams."

  • "You have to be willing to do the work and embrace the hard part in the beginning"

 

Show Notes & Resources:

     

    Transcript:

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