It happened in class

I showed 7 video clips in class in the last week while teaching a chapter about behaviorism. Everything from interviews with theorists to “The Office” and “The Simpsons” to Old Spice guy and Sesame Street. Epic chapter. One of my favorites to teach.

I used to think you had to teach small children to hear crazy things in class. I do not think so any more. This class is a hoot. At the end of every major theory I ask the class what are the contributions and criticisms of the theory. After talking about Skinner this last week and showing an interview he did, I asked for contributions and criticisms of his work. The class thought for a bit and the first comment was, “He solved the unemployed pigeon problem.” Gotta be honest, nobody’s ever brought up that aspect of Skinner before.

As a student in graduate classes I’ve seen people designing business cards, watching curling on the internet, drawing football line-ups and plays, and even knitting socks. I’ve done a bit of knitting in class as well. If my hands are knitting I’m more likely to pay attention because I’m less likely to surf the internet.

Yesterday I had a mouse in my pocket. And showed another Sesame Street clip. Both illustrate, one quietly and the other with a bit more volume, the importance of attention.

When I did my student teaching my cooperating teacher told me that if I’m bored as a teacher then the class has been bored for a very long time. That’s some of the best teaching advice I’ve ever had. And I’ve never been bored teaching.