Pick a book already!

I've spent the week gathering information on the book selections; what I have left:

Feminist perspectives with . . .

In a Different Voice by Carol Gilligan
Woman’s Ways of Knowing by Belenky, Clinchy, Goldgerger & Tarule

I'm familiar with both books from prior coursework and recommendations; but is this the time/place for either book to further my own learning?

The others . . .

Ethical Issues in Adult Education by Ralph Brockett

I’m very familiar with Brockett as an adult education textbook author/editor. I’ve had a very difficult time finding any real information on this book. From Amazon it has been cited in 19 books (that must be a good thing – right?).

What Amazon provides:
· Paperback: 224 pages
· Publisher: Teachers College Pr (April 1988)
· Language: English
· ISBN-10: 0807729094
· ISBN-13: 978-0807729090

Since I'm always a believer in ethics - this one will need to be added to future reading.
_______

Honky by Dalton Conley and The Education of Hyman Kaplan by Leonard Q. Ross.

First impression – autobiographical . . . how close am I to that first impression?

Google search of Honky – I should have placed a big bet :-).

I like Random House’s description the best

http://www.randomhouse.com/%20catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375727757&view=rg

I’ll need to revisit this book … looks like a very good read.





The Education of Hyman Kaplan by Leonard Q. Ross – maybe I ought not be a betting person – this is a work of fiction by Leo Rosten who used the pseudonym Leonard Q. Ross. Wikipedia and other sources provided necessary background info for this book.

The Jewish Book Center provided the following book description:
Hyman Kaplan, the irrepressible student with ostentatious pride at the American Night Preparatory School for Adults, has captivated readers ever since he first appeared in the pages of the New Yorker. Few immigrants have prepared themselves for the responsibility of citizenship with such high spirits as Kaplan, unrestrained by the pedantic guidance of Mr. Parkhill, who suffers as his student skews the English language with a zany logic all his own. His original treatment of speech recitation and composition irritates his classmates and tempts his teacher to promote and be rid of him prematurely, but in this compassionate classroom of misadventures, Hyman Kaplan is unmistakably at its heart.
http://www.jewishbookcenter.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=437

Another good read for another time.

"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.