What is Tackling a Wicked Problem? Revisited
Back near the start of the Cluster Pedagogy Learning Community (CPLC) at PSU, I wrote a blog post called "What is Tackling a Wicked Problem?", documenting the history of our…
Cluster Learning: Focus on Process and Complexity
To prepare for the next meeting of the Cluster Pedagogy Learning Community (CPLC) at Plymouth State University, I (re)read three articles, each of which is focused on one aspect of…
The Cluster Initiative at PSU
For the past five years, Plymouth State University has been working on the Integrated Cluster Initiative, the vision of President Donald Birx. Our ideas of this initiative have evolved but…
Data Analytics and the Science of Learning
Now that this shortened, very challenging Fall 2020 semester is over, I have started thinking about January followed by the Spring 2021 semester. As I posted back in October, we…
Data Analytics Learning Community
I was excited to send this email to my colleagues today. I am looking forward to participating in this learning community: It is my pleasure to announce that Plymouth State…
Online Asynchronous Collaboration: Mid-Semester Reflection
As is typical in the Fall semesters, I am teaching a section of our first year, project-based course Tackling a Wicked Problem. Back before we knew the extent of the…
Values and Cluster Learning
For the second summer in a row, I'm participating in a faculty learning community at Plymouth State University focused on our cluster learning model. One of the exercises we engaged…
Moving From File Repository to Narrative Journey
On May 18, 2020, The Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching published a timely article that I am finding helpful as I begin my thinking about teaching Tackling a WIcked…
Tackling a Wicked Problem Online
Because of the uncertainty about the Fall 2020 semester, my university has decided that if a first year student wants to take all of their classes online, we would have…
Project-Based Learning in the Age of COVID-19
Last week, Plymouth State University faculty participated in an event called Slipper Camp ("like boot camp but softer and on Zoom") in which we discussed various issues related to designing…
Cluster Learning at Plymouth State: A Community-Based Approach to Pedagogy
I am proud to be part of the learning community that created this newly available, openly-licensed book: Cluster Learning at Plymouth State: A Community-Based Approach to Pedagogy.
Tool for Fall 2020 TWP Selection
One of the problems we have encountered at Plymouth State University in implementing our Integrated Cluster Initiative involves effective communication with students about the opportunities offered in different classes and/or…
Making Meaning in Gen Ed via Thematic Pathways
We are continuing to work on The Four Tools of Clusters at Plymouth State University. Thematic pathways in the General Education program is the tool that is the most challenging…
End of Year Report
The end of the calendar year marks the end of our first year (of three) of funding from the Davis Educational Foundation. Our project, called Implementing Cluster Pedagogy in the…
Adventures in Ungrading
I have been moving away from traditional grading schemes for a while. In teaching the INCAP course in Spring 2019 and Tackling a Wicked Problem in Fall 2019, I have…
Evolution of the End of Semester Showcase of Student Engagement
One of the main goals of the Integrated Cluster Learning Model is to provide students with opportunity to practice talking about their work and their learning with authentic audiences. For…
Climate Change Class Web Site Debut
Students in my section of Tackling a Wicked Problem have been doing research about climate change claims. We have begun to publish their research on our class web site as…
Spring 2020 Cluster Experiences
Plymouth State University will continue to offer students the opportunity to participate in cluster experiences in the Spring 2020 semester. Recall that cluster learning is what happens when faculty members…
Understanding the Habits of Mind
A major goal of our Tackling a Wicked Problem class is to introduce students to our General Education program's Habits of Mind, which are the learning outcomes of the program. Understanding…
Climate Change Projects
My students in Tackling a Wicked Problem engaged in their first project on Friday of last week when they participated in the Climate Strike. They decided that instead of coming…
