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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Review: McKeachie's Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers

McKeachie's Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers
McKeachie's Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers by Wilbert James McKeachie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A very good collection of practical tips for teaching at the university, supported by the research on cognitive learning. A logical structure of the book makes it easy to read. I've got many useful tips for my teaching tenure.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Swimming against the tide?

"You don't plan to stay in Norway? Really?"

That's a very usual reaction to me saying that I have not come to Norway to move here permanently and that my plan is to eventually go back to Estonia. I notice this kind of reaction (manifested verbally or by raising eyebrows) being expressed by both Norwegians, foreigners living in Norway and many in Estonia.

It seems so obvious, doesn't it? Norway is one of the wealthiest and most comfortable countries in the world to live in. Estonia is a relatively poor country of European Union, plagued by unemployment and other social problems. Who would want to exchange these two for the benefit of latter one?

Well, yes, Norway is an amazing country, superior to anything else I have experienced in many respects. But words like ties with my family and sense of responsibility towards my land, the ability to impact the development and to make a real difference are not just empty slogans for me. Perhaps, I am naive... but a certain degree of naivety can be helpful sometimes...