Summer 2022 Connections Newsletter 1 – Summer Reading Recommendations
The goal of the Smeal Academy is to equip everyone with best practices and strategies for teaching, learning, and technology to ensure the Smeal community is prepared to respond to the unique challenges of teaching and learning during the Fall 2021 semester. Between now and the end of the Fall 2021 semester, we will be sending periodic emails with practical tips and information, providing live sessions, and holding virtual consultations.
This week, we are sharing our favorite books about teaching, learning, and life. Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading! Here are some of the eLDIG team’s current favorite reads.
What is the eLDIG Team Reading?
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
Mark DeLuca recommends this book for anyone exploring checklists! The author looks at ways that checklists can be used to communicate information more effectively in a world that seems oversaturated with content that people do not seem able to take in.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Renee Ford recommends this best-seller. James Clear provides concrete advice for changing your habits. This book is full of practical strategies for forming good habits and breaking bad ones. His website includes some helpful resources that are available for free.
Design for How People Learn by Julie Dirksen
Emily Baxter loves how this book breaks down the fundamental concepts of instructional design in a visually engaging way. Have fun exploring ways to improve your own learning and better engage your audience – whether you are teaching in a classroom, presenting at a conference, or writing a blog post! The first edition of the book is also available online through the Penn State University Libraries.
Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein
Matt Mignogna recommends this New York Times Bestseller. The authors of this book explore why people make bad judgments – and how we can all make better ones.
Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning by James Lang
This book is a favorite of many members of the eLDIG team. James Lang shares evidence-backed recommendations for small changes that can be made in your classroom to build community and help students retain more information. The first edition of this book is available as an e-book through Penn State Libraries: https://catalog.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/19435958.
What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching by Tracie Marcella Addy, Derek, Dube, Khadijah A. Mitchell, and Mallory E. SoRelle
This book is part of our Smeal Academy Summer Book Club! If you are interested in reading along with us, you can find an e-book in Penn State Libraries. We love all the practical suggestions in the book for creating inclusive classrooms.
Upcoming Live Sessions
- Smeal Academy Summer Book Club Kickoff Session
In this session, we will provide an overview of the book, What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching and talk about our goals for the summer book club.
NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous sessions can be found on our SmealTLT Website.
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