Ideal High School Graduation Gift Book - 99 Motivators for College Success

If you're looking for a gift idea for a recent graduate, this book has been a popular item over the years.

Amazon:  99 Motivators for College Success

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Customers say

Customers find the book full of practical, accessible ideas and helpful interviews with teachers. They also describe the author as funny, engaging, and informative.

7 customers mention "Content" 7 positive 0 negative

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

3 customers mention "Story" 3 positive 0 negative

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

Motivational Graduation Speech for High School and College Graduates

 Your Graduation Inspires Me

When I participate in graduation ceremonies, I often imagine delivering my own speech to the graduates, as if I were the commencement speaker:

Good morning chancellor, president, deans, faculty members, staff, students, friends, and family members.  And to the graduates:
Every one of you is special.
Every one of you is a productive member of society.
Every one of you is what inspires ME - because… 
Every one of you has a story to tell.
I just wish I had the time to hear every one of them, and to be there as your career paths unfold.

You have already accomplished a huge milestone on that journey.  The biggest step though was just showing up.  That’s it.  The secret most people don’t get until it’s too late.  Just showing up as young freshmen was a threshold event.  Trying something which may be hard for the first time.  Experiencing new things, even if it’s unknown whether the objective is attainable.

To me, the greatest barriers to success, however you define that, are a fear of the unknown, a fear of change, and a fear of failure.  But you need a game plan, and hopefully you can lean a little on what you learned in school to figure out that route.  No matter what you do in life, you always will have your education.

I hope you made some lifelong friends here.  Frankly, I learned more about life from my peers than from my professors.  And I hope you got more than knowledge from your profs because you can get that from a book.  I’m hoping you gained insight on whatever subject, and then stamped your own original perspective on how to resolve issues and solve problems.

Many times the things you do won’t work.  And you will fail at some things you try.  That’s just a fact of life.  Abraham Lincoln once said:  “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” 

And you will make mistakes.  A lot of them!  Both in your careers and your lives.  That’s just another fact of life.  But that’s okay.  The trick is figuring out how to deal with setbacks.  Your family and friends will always be there for you.  And your education will continually serve as a foundation to get you back on track.

Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “We are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of our own minds.”  Graduates, each of you must unlock your mind and blaze a path built on reason and purpose.  Life is too short to spend it bouncing around like a random and aimless ball in a game of Pong.®  And whether you are 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80 years young, it is never too late to test the boundaries of your dreams. 

Finally, I want all of you gathered in front of me to please lose the title of “former” student, because you will be my students for many years to come.  And I expect in return that I can become your student, as I learn about your professional successes, trials, and tribulations.

Every one of you is special.
Every one of you is a productive member of society.
Every one of you is what inspires me – because...
Every one of you has a story to tell.

What will your next journey be?

Excerpt from 99 Motivators for College Success

Another Kind Review of Innovative College Teaching

 

5.0 out of 5 stars A great way to reinject enthusiasm and fun into courses

Verified Purchase

As a Ph.D. researcher and instructor (in many classes, labs, work, and conferences) I really appreciate what’s here in abundance: a true enthusiasm for not just exciting students but engaging them in their own instruction. This isn’t the easiest way to teach. It’s much easier to pull out a long-written lecture, lecture it, give tests, and walk away to repeat boringly until retirement. But the unique examples and nuggets of keen experience offered here make teaching both more fun and more effective, for both the student and the instructor. I particularly liked the parts that dealt with the following topics: using abstract cartoons; unexpected icebreakers; extra credit projects that can’t be accepted; why not to use PowerPoint; how to do open-note exams; and the “last bits of wisdom” which are often profound. For anyone who is going to take on the responsibilities and duties of an instructor, this short book is a “must read.” Highly recommended!

Another Kind Amazon Review of Innovative College Teaching Book

5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous and informative pedagogy book

Although aimed at educators looking for “outside-of-the-box ideas” teaching college students, parents who want to inspire their children to enjoy higher education can benefit from it as well. As Perry Binder stated “Most of the books on college teaching are loaded with advice that tells you how to teach (Be passionate; Be flexible; Be yourself!), rather than show you by example how to teach.”

This book is presented in two parts: innovative teaching techniques and innovative master teachers. First, Binder (a licensed attorney who teaches law and business ethics to college students) discussed his teaching philosophy, online classes, artificial intelligence, exam prep, student engagement, and his college professor journey. Next he interviewed thirteen professors in the Education, Entrepreneurship, Law, Science, Technical Education, and Business departments.

The Appendix has useful anecdotes, pedagogy information, and sample classroom materials. The “Using AI to Develop Classroom Modules” highlights how the author uses his teaching method on emerging technologies.

 

Finishing My 24th Year at GSU

 

As students requested, I changed my Twitter profile pic to our mascot Pounce and me for the last week of class in Legal & Ethical Environment of Business.

Student Presentations on AI

Wrapping up the semester in Internet Law with presentations on how AI is changing various professions for the better and worse.

Who's Reading Innovative College Teaching?

 

Kae is!

A Kind International Review: Innovative College Teaching

 

lamp678

5.0 out of 5 stars An amusing and engaging path through university teaching of law

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2024

This book has a wealth of experience and uses different university teachers to write 13 of the chapters of the book. From icebreakers at the start of the course, to the use of AI and project work, it provides a good overview of teaching commercial law. There are also 15 Appendices at the back which provide context and some YouTube links.

Another Kind International Review: 99 Motivators for College Success

 Posted on Amazon in India

Manjul

5.0 out of 5 staRelatable

 Reviewed in India on March 28, 2024

 

Verified Purchase

I wish I could have read this book, “99 Motivators for College Success” when I was college student. Still, going through the book, I could easily relate to the insights given especially with regard to the transition from high school to college life. All in all, with three sections, Ninety Nine Motivators, Nine Takeaways, Nine Personal Goals, makes the path to college a lot easier. The book gives enough motivation to jot down a tip or a quote that reverberates with the reader. A must read for all young voyagers who are out to explore the world.