"The Learning College for the 21st Century "

Terry O’Banion: An Idea Champion Directs Walden’s Community College Leadership Program

“Community colleges are America’s affordable colleges in everyone’s backyard,” says Terry O’Banion, director of Walden’s Community College Leadership program and former president of the League for Innovation in the Community College. “They provide a second chance for students who never dreamed of attending college, and they require strong leaders who can help students navigate through the social and economic challenges of the 21st century.”

May 2008

<http://impacteducation.waldenu.edu/25067_25121.htm>

Since O'Banion's book was published in the late 90's - I wanted to find something a bit more recent. There are a lot of web sites with a diverse mix of information/application on O'Banion's work with community college administration/curriculum - “The KAM (Knowledge Area Module) framework is an innovative model of learning-centered education."

"Mentor"

Google Laurent A. Daloz and a mix of hits come up. I'm very impressed with his quote, "Mentors give us the magic that allows us to enter the darkness; a talisman to protect us from evil spells, a gem of wise advice, a map and sometimes simply courage." – Laurent Daloz, author & educator; which is on the Marylhurst University Alumni Mentor Program page <http://www.marylhurst.edu/careerservices/mentor.php>

Not sure if he is still an adjunct professor at the Teachers College - Columbia University; but I like his scholarly interests posted on the website:

Adult Development
Transformative Learning - especially in relation to formaton (sp) of commitment to the common good, bioregional citizenship, and the leadership of emergence.

<http://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/index.htm?facid=lad2003>

Checking another site for a book review - Daloz is an associate director and faculty member at the Whidbey Institute, a learning center on Whidbey Island, Washington. My home state :-). This site - wiley.com's (owns Jossey-Bass textbook publisher) description:

Revised and updated from the award-winning classic Effective Teaching and Mentoring, this second edition is a practical, engaging exploration of mentoring and its power to transform learning. Filled with inspiring vignettes, Mentor shows how anyone who teaches can become a successful mentor.

"Nowhere else are learning, development, and mentoring so vividly and engagingly written about than in Daloz's book. . . . Already a classic in the field, this second edition updates us all on the awesome power and responsibility inherent in the mentor's role."--Sharan B. Merriam, professor, Department of Adult Education, University of Georgia

"Essential reading.... This book will help more of us grow into one of the most life-giving relationships we can have with another person, one that will bring deep fulfillment to our own souls. Daloz has given a great gift to all who teach and learn."--Parker J. Palmer, author of The Courage to Teach

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0787940720,descCd-description.html

Two heavy-hitter adult ed authors. Two down - eight more to go . . .

"From Telling to Teaching"

A bit of research will be necessary for this book - I've not heard of it or the author.

First hit from Google is National Conference for Catechetical Leadership <http://www.nccl.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=70664&orgId=nccl>

First, what the heck is Catechetical?!?!? Checking Merriam-Webster Online - it's 'oral instruction'. I've learned something new. The web page above is for Resources that Touch on Ideas for Facilitating Groups and Various Creative Methods within the Adult Faith Formation Setting. Quite a lengthy list with quite a few authors I recognize - no specific info on Norris' book except: Norris, Joyce A. From Telling to Teaching: A Dialogue Approach to Adult Learning. Learning by Dialogue, 2003. Need to remember this - may be along the lines of Jane Vella.

A bit further down on the Google search . . .

http://www.learningbydialogue.com/book.htm looks promising . Sure is - I hit the jackpot. "Learning By Dialogue was created by educator and trainer Dr. Joye Norris" and she studied with Dr. Jane Vella :-).

I may need to save this one for another time since I'm currently reading Vella's Learning to Listen Learning to Teach.

Sweet Smell of Success

A graduate level class I will be taking this summer semester requires creating a 'book blog.' My learning curve is somewhat wide - so I'm starting early. Special thanks to my husband and daughter for possible blog titles. It appears I lead a very boring life - nothing jumped or screamed PERFECT, totally fits you. Oh well - in time.

My book options are:

From Telling to Teaching, by Joyce A. Norris
Mentor, by Laurent Daloz
The Learning College for the 21st Century by O’Banion
In a Different Voice by Carol Gilligan
Woman’s Ways of Knowing by Belenky, Clinchy, Goldgerger & Tarule
The Tao of Teaching by Greta Nagel
Ethical Issues in Adult Education by Ralph Brockett
Honky by Dalton Conley
The Education of Hyman Kaplan by Leonard Q. Ross

I'm familiar with three of the books from prior coursework ... so a bit of research will be necessary to narrow down my book selection.