What Makes the PSU Cluster Initiative Unique?
I was interviewed on Monday about the cluster initiative for a new podcast focused on higher education in general and Plymouth State University in particular. I think the interview went…
The First Year Seminar and Wicked Problems
The First Year Seminar Coordinating Council (FYSCC) is facilitating a workshop during Plymouth State University's January Jamboree. We will be discussing the changes we envision as the First Year Seminar (FYS) becomes…
Designing Your Life
As part of my work as a cluster guide, I've been continuing to read about design thinking. One of the books that I recently finished (in a mini-book club with my…
Design Thinking and Wicked Problems
When I visited Spain in 2008, I was impressed by all the little things the country was doing to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. There were wind farms all…
Student Engagement
I took advantage of our unexpected ice day today to write about the cluster initiative and student engagement. Two ideas that have arisen from conversations about clusters that might have…
Clustering Gen Ed
The General Education Committee and the cluster guides have been meeting once a week since the start of the semester to talk about potential changes to the General Education program. The…
Continued Cluster Communication
Last week was a busy one for me as a cluster guide. One topic that wove through most of the conversations had to do with internal communication about what's going…
Clusters and Curriculum
Conversations about various aspects of cluster implementation are continuing. Since I last wrote about my personal activities regarding clusters, I have been involved in three conversations that have given me…
This Week in Clusters
A lot of people gave me feedback on my last blog post. Those conversations have been really helpful for me in understanding how design thinking could help us in our…
Design Thinking and the Curriculum Planning Guide
If you've read any of my previous blog posts, you know that I am working with a group of faculty to modify Plymouth State University's First Year Seminar (FYS). We've…
Cluster Progress
One of the (many) difficulties with keeping the campus up to date about what's going on with clusters is that we (the guides) are doing a lot of work but we…
Cluster General Education
I apologize for my silence for the last several weeks. The start of the semester was a particularly busy time with multiple days dedicated to chair responsibilities and University Day…
Cluster Glossary
The cluster guides have been working hard all summer to come to some common understandings about the cluster initiative. In particular, we have created a sort of glossary so that…
Arts and Technologies
It feels as though every week in cluster development is busy but this past one (and a half) has been so busy that it's been difficult to find time to…
This Week in Clusters
It was a busy week in cluster development. The guides met Wednesday for eight hours to continue our discussions about definitions and success measures for the upcoming year and begin…
Cluster Experience Goals
One of the most difficult things about being involved as a guide in the cluster initiative is that there is no blueprint for how to get from where we are…
Ten Months In
Last August, our new president, Don Birx, spoke to eager Plymouth State University employees about his vision for the campus to be reorganized around strategic clusters and open labs. Even…
Freaks and Geeks and Strategic Clusters
I have two major projects that I'm working on this summer. One is related to the television show Freaks and Geeks which I love and use in my Analyzing Television…
