tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8445773704657138211.post6375433018259328273..comments2023-09-08T07:51:31.120-07:00Comments on Kiskis Log: Mark Twain and SwordplayMichael J. Kiskishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203856861127223894noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8445773704657138211.post-41195464455819233042010-08-27T09:37:14.202-07:002010-08-27T09:37:14.202-07:00It's not only about realizing that the content...It's not only about realizing that the content we teach can be intimidating or foreign to students, it's also about coming to terms with learning on its most basic terms. If I am going to teach a new book, I read that book, and I have a collection of approaches that I can take to understand the text. But what about learning something entirely out of my prior experience -- I can still become uncomfortable because I am no longer operating within my (even expanded) zone. And that totally new experience is what reinforces some sense of humility in those of us who feel confident in our other abilities.Michael J. Kiskishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01203856861127223894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8445773704657138211.post-67357658003602632392010-08-26T12:25:15.073-07:002010-08-26T12:25:15.073-07:00I was having dinner with a former student last fal...I was having dinner with a former student last fall and out of the blue he recommended that I should enroll in a class. He thought I needed to "not be in charge" for awhile. I wasn't sure how to take that... But maybe he was referring to your experience of trying to learn a new skill, being and feeling awkward, etc. It's probably good advice to do something new and challenging as this might give us empathy for our students who are learning things that are old hat to us, but spanking new to them. But then again, he might have read that doing something new guards against dementia - was he worried about me? Ha!lady of the lakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07891991592426253014noreply@blogger.com