College Class from Midnight to 3:00 a.m.

How's your schedule looking these days? Looking for a good teacher to student ratio?

A community college in Maryland has joined a growing trend nationwide: midnight classes.
Inside a brightly lit classroom, professor Paul Vinette stands near a chalkboard making comical noises. He is trying to keep his "Introduction to Psychology" class engaged and awake. His class begins at midnight and ends at a yawn-inducing 3 am. Kory Fox-Ponting is 1 of 10 students taking the Wednesday course.

Continue reading College Holds Classes At Midnight To Meet Demand

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130911603

"Do What You Love, But Don't Jeopardize Anyone You Love; Including Yourself."

Lesson 33 from Unlocking Your Rubber Room was just quoted on Twitter by a fellow tweeter:

@Perry_Binder "Do What You Love, But Don't Jeopardize Anyone You Love; Including Yourself." - Perry Binder J.D.

My reply back:

Good words R far gr8er than the utterer!

Lesson 33 - Do what you love but don’t jeopardize anyone you love. Including yourself.

Recognize and assess the risks in every major decision you make. And how they affect those around you.

When I left the full-time practice of law to teach, I was single and had no children. Would I have made such a career transition if I had a spouse and two kids at the time? I’d like to think so because in the end, career satisfaction is one key to personal fulfillment. Some opportunities are rare and don’t come around often. The difficult part is learning whether to jump at or pass on an adventure when your responsibilities require the support of those around you and a closer look at risk and reward.

For-Profit College, Kaplan University, is Scrutinized

An eye-opening and disturbing article on higher education in the for-profit sector:

Scrutiny Takes Toll on For-Profit College Company

[O]ver the last few months, Kaplan and other for-profit education companies have come under intense scrutiny from Congress, amid growing concerns that the industry leaves too many students mired in debt, and with credentials that provide little help in finding jobs.
Reports of students who leave such schools with heavy debt, only to work in low-paying jobs, have prompted the Department of Education to propose regulations that would cut off federal financing to programs whose graduates have high debt-to-income ratios and low repayment rates.

Continue Reading:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/education/10kaplan.html?hpw

Follow Your Dreams or Pick a Practical Major?

I had a great time with the students at Georgia State University in this session (five of my own students showed up!!). I went over the lessons in this link:

Follow Your Dreams or Pick a Practical Major?
http://www.perrybinder.com/college.htm

Sample Dream Jobs listed by student participants:

Own a non-profit to work with young girls; Math teacher; Self-employed chiropractor; Photographer; Musician; Marketing Exec for Nike; CEO of global corporation; Music supervisor; NFL general manager; Business lawyer; District Attorney; Restaurant owner

Lessons Discussed on How to Get There:

- Know the consequences of no regrets
– Figure out of you’re a structure person or someone who can self-motivate at any given time
– Figure out how to compensate for your weaknesses
– Are you a “Touch Wet paint” person?
– In stressful moments, lean on your strengths
– Do what you love but don’t jeopardize anyone you love. Including yourself.
– Never crush anyone’s dreams
– Find your light bulb moment by helping others
- Be willing to walk in anyone’s shoes
- Education and Preparation - the keys to creating options
– By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. When you’re finished changing, you’re finished (Ben Franklin)
– Learn at your own pace. You’ll get there eventually

My number one takeaway of the day:

The riskier your dream, the better your backup plan must be

Lessons of Justice for College Students: Grandpa versus Big Coal

Just posted on The Huffington Post...

Grandpa versus Big Coal

This is not an environmental issue. This is about a little human being. -- Ed Wiley (Grandpa) speaking to West Virginia Governor Manchin

While the media insults and labels the youth of every generation like an X or Y or Z (oh you Slackers, Echoes, and Netters), I instead see college students bringing energy and a common message of hope to the table: to make a difference in their lives and those of others. And in an Introduction to Law class, it is my job to find them real world cases to teach lessons of justice and injustice. So let's meet Ed Wiley and the kids at Marsh Fork Elementary School.

CONTINUE READING @ The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/perry-binder/grandpas-school-kids-vers_b_774929.html

Binder on TV News - Facebook Privacy

A five minute interview with 10 seconds on camera. Oh the cutting room floor!

Enjoy!

Facebook/Social Media Privacy Settings

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/25433647/index.html

Math, Science Teachers take weightless flight

LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Five Utah educators experienced moments of lunar, Martian and zero gravity during a Weightless Flights of Discovery program geared toward inspiring teachers to inspire students. During the flight, participants experienced lunar, Martian and zero gravity. They floated, flipped and pirouetted mid-air, did push-ups on one finger and tossed each other through the air.

The program is geared toward middle school math and science teachers with an interest in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Continue reading: Utah math, science teachers take weightless flight

http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Utah-math-science-teachers-take-weightless-flight-705302.php

Community College Prof: Every rock tells a story

"He makes learning fun,” said Josh Lee, a Wilmington resident who was a student in one of Phil Garwood’s classes nearly 10 years ago. Lee said he took the class because he heard from friends that Garwood’s class would be different, involving field trips and more interactive lessons.

“I just think there’s certain people out there who have a gift, and Garwood’s gift is the gift of teaching and spreading the word about geology,” Lee said.

Continue reading Teacher shares ‘gift of teaching, spreading word about geology’

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20101009/ARTICLES/101009626/1004

Oprah and Bill Gates Discuss Their Favorite Teachers

The White House's new TEACH Campaign features videos of prominent Americans sharing the teacher or teachers that inspired them most.

Who made the difference for you?
Bill Gates says, "There wouldn't be a Microsoft without what they did." The software pioneer shares the teachers who mattered most.

Oprah and Bill Gates Discuss Their Favorite Teachers

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/04/oprah-john-legend-jj-abra_n_748704.html

Don't Jail Me Bro! Bail Me Out Mr. Prof Man

Just posted at Huffington Post College:

Don't Jail Me Bro! Bail Me Out Mr. Prof Man

My classroom syllabus says: No legal advice questions! Yet, I still get telephone calls from students, usually when it's too late -- after they have a court date.

You know how you get one call before you are hauled off to prison? Well, I got this call from "Steve": Perry, I'm in the DeKalb County Detention Center. Get me out of here!

Continue reading at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/perry-binder/dont-jail-me-bro-bail-me-_b_734426.html