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More information:
Joe Bandy (Sociology) on Teaching
Consultant Introductions
Learn more about a consultant, including some of their thoughts on teaching.
Joe Bandy
Rachel Beane
Deb DeGraff
Ed Laine
Sarah McMahon
Bill VanDerWolk
Enrique Yepes
"Democracy needs to be reborn in each generation and education is its midwife." John Dewey
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." William Butler Yeats
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is teaching. As a former undergraduate in a small liberal arts college, I came to Bowdoin deeply aware of the empowering possibilities of a close-knit academic community that emphasizes critical thought, interdisciplinarity, and public engagement. Now, I find Bowdoin College a great context in which to realize these goals with students. I have found it especially rewarding to assist students develop the knowledge base and critical thinking skills necessary for greater social responsibility - or the "common good" - in their lives beyond the classroom.
My courses have varied widely by topic and level. And I am continually honing my teaching methods by adopting new pedagogies and experimenting with new course designs. Therefore, I have used a variety of teaching methods that students have found helpful - lecturing, student-led discussions, oral presentations, group projects, role playing, film, current events, journals, briefs, intensive writing assignments, and of course, exams. However, two methods are especially important in my courses, case teaching and service learning.
Case Study Method
To create a more democratic and participatory process in class, student-presentations and role-playing exercises are common. One related pedagogy is case studies. A case study is a written description of a situation, usually involving some social dilemma or crisis, which asks students to take roles and debate potential causes and solutions. Most cases depict actual historical or current situations, although they frequently incorporate fictional elements. They allow students to act as participants not merely disinterested observers, to practice analytical and leadership skills, and to recognize the complex intersection of practical and theoretical concerns in a variety of social contexts. If you are interested in learning more about the case method, please visit the Case Method website at the University of California, Santa Barbara, directed by John Foran. After having participated in case discussions, many Bowdoin College students have desired to write their own cases on topics related to the course material. Please see my Teaching Methods website, Teaching Methods website.
Service Learning
Service learning is an approach to higher education that focuses students on academic learning in the context of community service. In this form of learning, students can become more engaged in their academic work by grappling with theoretical issues in real world contexts, while at the same time develop a deeper sense of community responsibility. There is evidence that, when done well, service learning can meet both academic goals and community needs, allowing students to emerge from courses with greater memory and practical awareness of course materials, as well as better interpersonal and leadership skills. Problem Based Service Learning (PBSL) is a model of teaching that matches the needs, or "problems," of community partners to those of academic courses. PBSL has been applied to courses in many disciplines, giving students practical experiences through which to learn class topics. PBSL has enabled students to take greater pride and ownership in their course work and their communities. For more information about this pedagogy, complete with example syllabi from many disciplines, please see the links available on my Teaching Methods website. You may also contact me or the Community Service Resource Center, for more sources and ongoing course development opportunities.