Our exclusive podcast interview with Instructional Excellence Conference 2025 speaker, Dr. Michelle Miller: https://www.michellemillerphd.com/
The interview is a focused follow up to the keynote and workshop from the Walker Center’s annual end of the academic year conference. Dr. Miller spoke with us just after the conference about a variety of teaching and learning topics. We encourage you to check out her books, especially the one we discuss in some detail on the importance of learning students names! https://www.michellemillerphd.com/books
Many thanks to Dr. Miller for speaking with us and encouraging our use of the resources she mentioned, listed below.
S3, Ep2 Show Notes:
Dr. Miller’s Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdmillerphd/
Books: https://www.michellemillerphd.com/books
Speaker’s Page https://www.michellemillerphd.com/speaking
Dr. Miller mentioned Harvard’s Dr. Michael Sendel, his practice of calling students by name as he summarizes their points. He’s very calm and kind, and calls on lots of students to engage over the passed around microphones. I found an example here, and he’s a great speaker - talking to several students in a huge room. Start around 9:20, but the whole lecture is good! https://youtu.be/FX9S1uN2Lzw?si=hkmrr3CCd0xRQLB_&t=560
Dr. Miller also mentioned Dr. Jim Lang’s advice on using the first day of class well, and he’s written about that here: https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-to-teach-a-good-first-day-of-class/?utm_campaign=che-social&utm_content=20250104&utm_medium=o-soc&utm_source=li
I mentioned an Edutopia quote, Kindness Changes the Brain, especially noting “ Studies show that people experience a “helper’s high” when they do a good deed. This rush of endorphins creates a lasting sense of pride, well-being, and belonging. It’s reported that even small acts of kindness heighten our sense of well-being, increase energy, and give a wonderful feeling of optimism and self worth”. and here’s more about that: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-kindness-essential-reduce-bullying-lisa-currie
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The Wildlife Minute this month focuses on water fowl, specifically ducks and geese who are at risk of “Angel Wing”, a terrible deformity that comes from poor nutrition -primarily too much bread or crackers!
Additional information and ideas for helping ducks in parks: https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/wildlife-issues/problem-feeding-ducks
Find help for local wildlife: https://campwildernest.com/
Outside the local area, keep this site in mind for help: https://ahnow.org
WPTL is a creative endeavor of the staff of the
Walker Center for Teaching and Learning - http://utc.edu/walker
at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. - http://utc.edu
Hosted by Mary Marr and Heather Thach.
Pilot shared Summer 2023
Inaugural Season 1 Fall 2023
Season 3 Spring 2025 - 2026
New season starting Summer 2026
We would love to hear from you anytime at WCTL@utc.edu
