From a professor in Texas...
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2024
Tips & Insights for Professors, Curious Teachers, and Motivated Students
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2024
Excited to receive this honor in the Non-Fiction - Education category
The highly competitive contest "featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities."
Prior winners include: New York Times bestsellers J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors Jim Carrey, Henry Winkler, and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America).
From the Archives as we enter a new academic year...
I wrote this Op-Ed in 2009 for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Education section (subscription required), which was reprinted in The Huffington Post. (2010) It is told in story form in Innovative College Teaching. (2024)
c 2009-2024 Perry Binder
Epilogue - Innovative College Teaching: Tips & Insights from 14 Master Teachers
From time to time, I reflect on my teaching career, looking to capture my sentiment in the moment in one word. Recently, I watched an interview with Henry Winkler as he discussed the ups and many downs of his acting career after the hit television show, Happy Days, ended in 1984. The word that stuck with me was that he was grateful for everything. Grateful. Work hard and be grateful. During the ups and the downs. Appreciate current and former students and colleagues, and all of the people you’ve met along the way.
I am grateful to the professors interviewed for this book. Unknown to them, they elevated my game as I edited their chapters. When students ask me about time management techniques, I tell them to be strategic and efficient with their time. To learn how and when to say no. But if I listened to my own advice, I likely would’ve passed on a great opportunity. As I was re-reading about the amazing work these Master Teachers are doing with their students, I was inspired to say yes.
This led me to take on the task of recruiting and coaching a team of three students to compete in a three-day international mediation competition hosted by a neighboring university. These students weren’t in my Consumer Law class, had zero exposure to mediation training, and went up against many students who were Conflict Resolution majors. They had five weeks to learn how to mediate a dispute and switch roles from mediator to advocate to client in mock mediation sessions. The same amount of training time that Rocky had to fight world champion, Apollo Creed. The students worked hard and performed admirably. They demonstrated skill, patience, empathy, and poise under pressure, and articulated reflective insights.
Author Dan Millman once said: “The journey is what brings us happiness, not the destination.” I am grateful to the students who sacrificed their time during this adventure to learn and experience something new. In turn, these types of interactions facilitate my growth as a professor and person. All of which motivates me to seek out my next quest.
Click here for Innovative College Teaching
© 2024 Perry Binder
Perry Binder is a Clinical Associate Professor of Legal Studies, entering his 25th year at Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business. He is the author of several books, including Innovative College Teaching (2024), Classroom LIGHTBULBS for College Professors (2023), and 99 Motivators for College Success (2012).
Before the pandemic, I taught or presented abroad nine out of ten years since 2010. It's about time to find a new international adventure.
2010 - Taught in Paderno del Grappa, Italy for a month
2011 - Presented at a conference in Trento, Italy
2012 - Taught in Florence, Italy for a month https://perrybinder.blogspot.com
2013 - Presented at a conference in Florence
2014 - Closing speaker at the same conference in Florence
2015 - Presented at a conference in Athens, Greece
2016 - Taught in Austria, Greece, and Hungary for two weeks
2017 - Presented at a conference in Toronto, Canada
2019 - Closing speaker at the conference in Florence
Customers find the book full of practical, accessible ideas and helpful interviews with teachers. They also describe the author as funny, engaging, and informative.
Customers find the book full of practical and accessible ideas that can be put to work. They also appreciate the interviews with teachers and gems. Customers say the book makes teaching more fun and effective.
"...of keen experience offered here make teaching both more fun and more effective, for both the student and the instructor...." Read more
"...with “master teachers” are interesting and more engaging and useful than anticipated...." Read more
"...Though the book provides a salad of advice rather than a system, it has many gems. I plan to use some of the ideas in my class." Read more
"...The Appendix has useful anecdotes, pedagogy information, and sample classroom materials...." Read more
Customers find the story engaging and informative.
"...The interviews with “master teachers” are interesting and more engaging and useful than anticipated...." Read more
"...than a teacher Perry may have more to offer as a writer who is funny, engaging, and informative. Or maybe the two are related. Who knows?" Read more
"A great way to reinject enthusiasm and fun into courses..." Read more
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