As I catch up on reading at home and currently listening to Isabelle Boulay - 60 songs on Windows Media - I must take the opportunity to recommend a good book. I got the book from the library and it is called This Is Your Brain on Music.
It is written by a professor at McGill University who was mainly trained in the States. The book was recommended to me by a former student of mine at the University of Guelph-Humber. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys music - which pretty much means everyone. It is a wonderful understanding of both science and art.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Professor’s Perspective: Teaching in the summer
Some professors work through the fall and the winter just waiting for their time off in the summer. Other professors really enjoy teaching in the summer.
For those professors who teach in the summer, this could provide a tremendous opportunity.
If it is your first time teaching, the summer time may a good time to get used to your new work environment, get to know your colleagues and enjoy your time with your students in better weather. Teaching in the summer is an advantage for many new professors, as well as students, because worries about needing to cancel a class due to weather conditions are minimized.
The weather may even be so lovely that you can choose to change the classroom environment to outdoors in a quad, go on field trips and feel more encouraged to hang around the campus to get to know the school community better.
The summer is also a great time to get part-time or adjunct work with a college or university. You may have a more flexible work schedule and be able to devote a few hours to a course here or there.
Students can be at an advantage by taking summer school. Professors tend to be more relaxed and in a better state of mind than other times of the year. This may also translate into the kind of grades you would receive. As well, for students, it helps to get some of those extra credits or missed credits to either help you stay on course with your studies, or advance further so you would have more time for things like work and internships later on.
For professors who are fully established with the institution or institutions they work for…summer time is a great one to teach at your best. Usually with a lighter course load, there is more opportunity to either focus on the courses you have to teach, and/or to work on other projects that are important to you. These could be projects around the home, research, writing and projects related to work. You just may find that a project you start in the summer is something that you will carry with you throughout the year.
For those professors who teach in the summer, this could provide a tremendous opportunity.
If it is your first time teaching, the summer time may a good time to get used to your new work environment, get to know your colleagues and enjoy your time with your students in better weather. Teaching in the summer is an advantage for many new professors, as well as students, because worries about needing to cancel a class due to weather conditions are minimized.
The weather may even be so lovely that you can choose to change the classroom environment to outdoors in a quad, go on field trips and feel more encouraged to hang around the campus to get to know the school community better.
The summer is also a great time to get part-time or adjunct work with a college or university. You may have a more flexible work schedule and be able to devote a few hours to a course here or there.
Students can be at an advantage by taking summer school. Professors tend to be more relaxed and in a better state of mind than other times of the year. This may also translate into the kind of grades you would receive. As well, for students, it helps to get some of those extra credits or missed credits to either help you stay on course with your studies, or advance further so you would have more time for things like work and internships later on.
For professors who are fully established with the institution or institutions they work for…summer time is a great one to teach at your best. Usually with a lighter course load, there is more opportunity to either focus on the courses you have to teach, and/or to work on other projects that are important to you. These could be projects around the home, research, writing and projects related to work. You just may find that a project you start in the summer is something that you will carry with you throughout the year.
The Importance of Exercise
Exercise is a vital part of keeping a healthy life. I find I always feel better when I exercise and I have some gym equipment at home that has been helping me to exercise all year round.
This past week, I have not exercised as much and I can really feel the difference. It can be so easy to get into a lazy pattern and not exercise and eat properly when you are supposed to. At least I have been able to counterbalance the lack of exercise with fairly good eating practices this week. The ideal of course is to implement both into your life.
I have taken some walks outside and received some exercise - just not as much as I know my body needs and I can feel that. I also read a report somewhere that said even for older people, low impact exercise for a sustained period of time can be terrific for your health.
Regardless of the weather - try to get some exercise in. I really admire those people I see walking or jogging even when it is raining or snowing in the winter time. Try to make it part of your weekly or daily routine, which I have been pretty good about up until this week - and I plan on getting back on the bandwagon today.
This past week, I have not exercised as much and I can really feel the difference. It can be so easy to get into a lazy pattern and not exercise and eat properly when you are supposed to. At least I have been able to counterbalance the lack of exercise with fairly good eating practices this week. The ideal of course is to implement both into your life.
I have taken some walks outside and received some exercise - just not as much as I know my body needs and I can feel that. I also read a report somewhere that said even for older people, low impact exercise for a sustained period of time can be terrific for your health.
Regardless of the weather - try to get some exercise in. I really admire those people I see walking or jogging even when it is raining or snowing in the winter time. Try to make it part of your weekly or daily routine, which I have been pretty good about up until this week - and I plan on getting back on the bandwagon today.
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