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Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Education

Student Mentoring: Sharing A Legacy, Michael W. Firmin Apr 2008

Student Mentoring: Sharing A Legacy, Michael W. Firmin

Psychology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Towards Remediating Undergraduate Students' Statisticophobia, Michael W. Firmin, Elizabeth Proemmel Jan 2008

Towards Remediating Undergraduate Students' Statisticophobia, Michael W. Firmin, Elizabeth Proemmel

Psychology Faculty Publications

In this conceptual paper, based on teaching and TA experience, seven suggestions are made for improving the statistics experience of students in social science courses. These include hiring non-mathematicians to teach the course; emphasize conceptual statistics rather than computational approaches; recognize that many, or ever most, social science students think intuitively—rather than scientifically—so teaching statistics as a means of answering questions is needed; loosen-up the mundane nature that statistics courses often follow; relate statistics to students’ day-to-day lives; and utilize an undergraduate student assistant in all sections of statistics classes.


Utilizing Undergraduate Assistants In General Education Courses, Michael W. Firmin Jan 2008

Utilizing Undergraduate Assistants In General Education Courses, Michael W. Firmin

Psychology Faculty Publications

This conceptual article relates a best-practice paradigm for undergraduate faculty who teach relatively large, undergraduate, general education courses and utilize an undergraduate teaching assistant (TA). Suggested characteristics for successful TAs are related as well as intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that help recruit quality assistants. Five factors are shared that are believed to have made an undergraduate TA program successful for 20 years: the quality of students recruited, helping students to handle well their peer-relationships with students in the class, learning which items can and cannot successfully be delegated to TAs, harnessing the potency of relationships, and maintaining a healthy benefit/cost …


Transitioning From Administration To Faculty: Addictions To Break, Michael W. Firmin Jan 2008

Transitioning From Administration To Faculty: Addictions To Break, Michael W. Firmin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Any type of transition involves challenges. Generally, the more extreme the transition, the more difficult people will find the adjustment process. The present conceptual article provides insight that focuses on one particular transition in higher education. Administrators that transition from their managerial roles to those of ''regular faculty" likely will experience internal and external dynamics with which they will need to cope successfully. This article identifies these potential areas and offers insights that are intended to be useful for administrators to make the transition as successful as possible. Administration is not always a unidirection career path, so advanced preparation can …