Faculty News Archive

cartoon of cats and ducks discussing the right of parlayPCC Reads
By Jane Rognlie, Librarian Faculty, January, 2012.
Is it ethical to use human cells for medical research without a patient's consent? A PCC Librarian reviews this engaging and true story that addresses both the scientific and human sides of this question.
cartoon of cats and ducks discussing the right of parlayParlay and Protocol
By Pam Kessinger, Librarian Faculty, September, 2011.
When a student faces disruptive knowledge gaps or misunderstood hypotheses, consider sharing a "right of parlay".
monster holding broken peer-reviewed signPeer-reviewed Articles
By Stephanie Debner, Librarian Faculty, June, 2011.
One of the most common requests that the PCC librarians receive at the reference desk is for help finding peer-reviewed articles.
Student asleep with head on bookWhy Do We Keep That Old Stuff?
By Tony Greiner, Librarian Faculty, April, 2011.
In those days of ink and paper, those skilled in the ancient arts of indexing knew how to find secret texts. What are these tools and what secrets do they reveal?
MetaliteracyMetaliteracy
By Stephanie Debner, Librarian Faculty, February, 2011.
Metaliteracy is a framework that can unite the various competencies and literacies. It takes the critical thinking and analysis components of media, visual, and information literacies and combines them with the technological components of digital literacy.
student engagement techniquesStudent Engagement Techniques
By Roberta Richards, Librarian Faculty, January, 2011.
Engaging students in the college classroom has gotten tougher. Learn tips, strategies, and applications for increasing motivation and providing an active learning environment for student success.
beach grass with sunset skyThe Art of Browsing
By Pam Kessinger, Librarian Faculty, November, 2010.
Browsing involves attention flexing between general and specific, picking up visual cues and letting the mind wander. In doing this, related things can be discovered that would otherwise be overlooked.
Metaphors Dictionary book coverThis is Your Brain
By Stephanie Debner, Librarian Faculty, September, 2010.
Curious about the effect of the Internet and the web on our brains? Research has shown that using the internet puts us into a state of cognitive overload. In this state, our attention suffers and we are more distractible.
Metaphors Dictionary book coverEtymology, Ethology, but not Entomology
By Pam Kessinger, Librarian Faculty, June, 2010.
The concept of how metaphors are made, and how they “mean” is in itself an intellectual process worth considering. Symbolism, semiotics, and linguistics are all involved, yet so are clichés.
Picture of human head with grid overlayLearning Styles Research Stirs Debate
By Pam Kessinger, Librarian Faculty, May, 2010.
Are learning styles worth your time? Are not problem-based learning and active learning techniques more engaging to reluctant learners? Doesn’t it help students to present course content with context, and ways to connect to prior learning?
Picture of galaxyDatabases - They Are Not Just For Articles
By Robin Shapiro, Librarian Faculty, March, 2010.
Have you seen what our databases can do now? We have databases that talk, translate, and cite articles for you, as well as databases full of art images, and even video clips! It's a multimedia extravaganza.
Learner Centered Teaching Resources for Strategies on Learner-Centered Instruction
By Greg Kaminski, PCC Instructional Computing Facilitator, February, 2010.
With learner-centered instruction, students are kept at the center of the learning process. Instructors help to create an environment in which the students can make connections.
Promoting Integrated and Transformative Assessment Learning Assessment
By Pam Kessinger, Librarian Faculty, December, 2009.
The Library is building a comprehensive collection of materials for programmatic assessment and practical how-to guides on learning assessment for faculty use. See: Learning Assessment Subject Research Guide.
Reading the Newspaper Reading the Newspaper
By Tony Greiner, Librarian Faculty, November, 2009.
If you are the sort of person who thinks reading online is too cool for school, The Oregonian is still for you. If you want the entire paper online, including the funnies, login to the free E-Oregonian for Educators.
The Courage to Teach Leaners or Lifters?
By Pam Kessinger, Librarian Faculty, October, 2009.
"Lifters" are sometimes given a secondary role. However, in groups focused on a common goal, there is often shared leadership, where designated leaders are essential, but so too are supportive people.