Teaching Methodologies

Each teaching and learning methodology contains background information, a description for why it works, and how it relates to teaching and learning for native students. It also contains a section with strategies for using and assessing the methodology and a section with additional resources related to the methodology.

Strategies for Student Success – In-Service March 5, 2015

On March 5, 2015 we had a faculty in-service presentation and discussion that built upon a talk at the 2014 Vine Deloria, Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium by Dr. Daniel Wildcat. Dr. Wildcat’s talk was followed by a presentation by Don McCluskey on how the ideas and principles in Dr. Wildcat’s talk apply at NWIC.... »

Videoconferencing Pedagogy at NWIC

Overview Many courses at Northwest Indian College are taught over iTV, a technology that allows our sites students to connect to each other through real-time videoconference.  There are many advantages to offering courses this way, as it allows for higher enrollment, saves on transportation costs, allows for the sharing of multiple tribal perspectives and... »

Fostering Sharing and Community Through Blogs

“That’s why I think blogging is potentially different from any writing that we’ve asked students to do, a genre that may have great value in terms of developing all sorts of critical thinking skills, writing skills and information literacy among other things. We teach exposition and research and some other types of analytical writing... »

Using Reflective Writing in Teaching

OVERVIEW Written reflection is defined as a meta-cognitive process or thinking about thinking. There are several ways to approach the written reflection process. One way is to use a writer’s log. This is a quick-write focusing on general information over a week’s time. Another type of written reflection is a draft focusing on a... »

Using Talking Circles in the Classroom

Overview Talking circles have become a well known method of healing in American Indian populations. The typical format involves the participants sitting in a circle; each individual will be able to make eye contact with everyone. There is an object of some sort passed around and whoever has the object gets to speak. Only... »

Roundtable/Seminar Pedagogy

Overview Research suggests that “round-table” or seminar approach pedagogy is a successful learning technique for Native students (Rhodes 1988) and first generation college students, in general (NISOD 2009). The characteristics of the round-table approach fits well with many Native students whose traditional life ways are based on collectivist, rather than individualistic values (Suttles 1960;... »

Place-Based Education Pedagogy

Overview Over the past several years, there has been increased interest in designing curriculum that is rooted it place-based pedagogy (Fien, 1993; Bowers, 2001; Smith, 2002; Theobald and Curtiss, 2000; Theobald, 1997; Tanner, 1998). Despite this intersest, mainstream education policies remain rooted in generalized –or – universialized curriculum that is void of a reference... »

Critical Thinking

OVERVIEW One definition of critical thinking is that it “is purposeful and reflective judgment about what to believe or what to do” (“Critical Thinking,” n.d.). In the Western tradition, Socrates is regarded as an early practitioner of critical thinking as manifested in his teaching practice and vision involving the use of probing questioning with... »

Using Case Studies in the Classroom

OVERVIEW Case studies have long been used in education, notably within medicine, business and law, and at Harvard University within its business school and the Kennedy School for Government and Public Policy. They are gaining in popularity for many reasons including their association with problem-based learning, the fact that they promote deeper and broader... »

Service Learning in the Classroom

Overview Service learning is a teaching method that combines community service with academic instruction as it focuses on critical, reflective thinking and civic responsibility.  Service learning programs involve students in organized community service that addresses local needs, while developing academic skills, sense of responsibility, and commitment to the community. (Community College National Center for... »

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