Monday, August 24, 2020

The Surprising Power of Digital Textbooks | TAPP 76


Like it or not, digital textbooks are here and will soon be the primary form of textbook used by students and teachers. Host Kevin Patton discusses this trend and outlines ways to leverage digital textbook features for more effective teaching and learning. Mike Pascoe brings us a Book Club recommendation and Kevin discusses arms, arm-lengths, and legs.

  • 00:48 | Digital Is Here
  • 10:09 | Sponsored by AAA
  • 11:02 | Digital Textbook Love
  • 22:43 | Sponsored by HAPI
  • 23:59 | Book Club: Digital Minimalism
  • 26:29 | Sponsored by HAPS
  • 27:19 | Arm's Length
  • 32:35 | Staying Connected

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Lovers of print are simply confusing the plate for the food. (Douglas Adams)


Digital Is Here

9.5 minutes

Like it or not, digital textbooks are here. Whether we call them eTexts, electronic textbooks, eTextbooks, or whatever, many publishers are already in the digital-first or digital-only mode. Before long, digital textbooks will soon be the primary way that students use textbooks.

  • History of the Ebook: The Changing Face of Books (journal article, but dated) my-ap.us/31koutu
  • A Brief History of eBooks (yep, very brief) my-ap.us/30x6Xio
  • Digital Is Coming For Your Textbook (blog post from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association) my-ap.us/3kqkujY

course review

 

Sponsored by AAA

1 minute

A searchable transcript for this episode, as well as the captioned audiogram of this episode, are sponsored by the American Association for Anatomy (AAA) at anatomy.org.

Searchable transcript

Captioned audiogram 

Don't forget—HAPS members get a deep discount on AAA membership!

AAA logo

 

Digital Textbook Love

12 minutes

Digital textbooks have a lot of features that can be leveraged for teaching and learning—including flipped courses, distance courses, or remote pandemic teaching. For many of us, our fumbling first tries are awkward and uncomfortable—but we may eventually fall in love with digital textbooks.

two students on blanket on grass with laptop computers

 

Sponsored by HAPI Online Graduate Program

1 minute

The Master of Science in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction—the MS-HAPI—is a graduate program for A&P teachers, especially for those who already have a graduate/professional degree. A combination of science courses (enough to qualify you to teach at the college level) and courses in contemporary instructional practice, this program helps you be your best in both on-campus and remote teaching. Kevin Patton is a faculty member in this program. Check it out!

nycc.edu/hapi

NYCC Human Anatomy and Physiology Instruction

 

Book Club

2.5 minutes

  • Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
  • Recommended by Mike Pascoe
  • For the complete list (and more) go to theAPprofessor.org/BookClub
  • Special opportunity
    • Contribute YOUR book recommendation for A&P teachers!
      • Be sure include your reasons for recommending it
    • Any contribution used will receive a $25 gift certificate
    • The best contribution is one that you have recorded in your own voice (or in a voicemail at 1-833-LION-DEN)
  • For the complete list (and more) go to theAPprofessor.org/BookClub

Book Cover: Digital Minimalism

 

Sponsored by HAPS

1 minute

The Human Anatomy & Physiology Society (HAPS) is a sponsor of this podcast.  You can help appreciate their support by clicking the link below and checking out the many resources and benefits found there. Watch for virtual town hall meetings and upcoming regional meetings!

Anatomy & Physiology Society

theAPprofessor.org/haps

HAPS logo

 

Arm's Length

5 minutes

Two meters or six feet are often given as a minimum safe distance when distancing to reduce the spread of airborne viruses such COVID-19. As a practical guide, some sources state that this distance is about "two arm lengths." But Kevin questions whether "one arm span" may be what these sources really mean—and may be a better practical guide. Otherwise, people may be distancing at only about four feet and not the recommended two meters (6.5 feet)—about 60% of the most effective minimum distance. Because Kevin can never leave well enough alone.

  • In the United States, the CDC recommends, "To practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms' length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces." my-ap.us/2PBO3AS
  • The Canadian Health Service similarly advises, "keeping a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others, as much as possible" my-ap.us/3fAWc32
  • "The arm span measurement is usually very close to the person's height. For example, a 168cm (5ft 6in) person will have an arm span of about 168cm (66in)" according to an article in Wikipedia my-ap.us/33ChKKp
  • Diagram giving some rough estimates (individual measurements vary)
  • Two metres or one: what is the evidence for physical distancing in covid-19? (review/analysis article from BMJ questions the 2-meter rule; includes diagram showing various levels of risk) my-ap.us/3hzDURI
diagram showing measuremen of arm vs. arm span

If the hyperlinks here are not active, go to TAPPradio.org to find the episode page.

 

Tools & Resources 
 
Sponsors
 
Transcript and captions for this episode
are supported by the 
 
aprovides marketing support for this podcast. 
 
Distribution of this episode is supported by 
NYCC's online graduate program in 
 
Clicking on sponsor links 
helps let them know you appreciate
their support of this podcast!
 
Follow The A&P Professor on  Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Nuzzel, Tumblr, or Instagram!
 
The A&P Professor® and Lion Den® are registered trademarks of Lion Den Inc. (Kevin Patton)
 

Click here to listen to this episode—or access the detailed notes and transcript.

Monday, August 10, 2020

The Syllabus Special | TAPP 75


The syllabus is an important instructional tool that sets the tone and provides guidance for the entire course. Host Kevin Patton discusses various aspects of a course syllabus in a comprehensive, extended episode featuring classic and fresh segments.

  • 0:00:49 | The Syllabus Special
  • 0:03:32 | Sponsored by AAA
  • 0:04:22 | Weird Word: Syllabus
  • 0:06:41 | Do Students Read the Syllabus?
  • 0:13:23 | Reading & Raiding the Syllabus
  • 0:27:32 | First-Day Activities
  • 0:45:32 | Basic Elements of a Syllabus
  • 0:58:40 | Sponsored by HAPI
  • 0:59:33 | More Things to Put in a Syllabus
  • 1:10:59 | Link to Other Resources
  • 1:18:58 | Sponsored by HAPS
  • 1:19:40 | Professionalism as a Course Goal
  • 1:22:41 | Syllabus Warnings
  • 1:38:03 | Nuzzel Newsletter
  • 1:39:07 | Safety Advice
  • 1:59:35 | Pronouns
  • 2:02:22 | Long-Long Syllabus
  • 2:07:32 | Staying Connected

 


If you cannot see or activate the audio player click here.

Please take the anonymous survey: theAPprofessor.org/survey

Questions & Feedback: 1-833-LION-DEN (1-833-546-6336)
Follow The A&P Professor on Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Nuzzel, Tumblr, or Instagram!


 

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. (John Dewey)

 

Weird Word: Syllabus

2.5 minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that first appeared in Understanding How We Learn, A Chat with Yana Weinstein & Megan Sumeracki | Episode 27.

Which is correct: syllabuses or syllabi? The answer may surprise you! Nevertheless, now's a good time to think about tweaking your course documents for the fall semester.

letters

 

Sponsored by AAA

1 minute

A searchable transcript for this episode, as well as the captioned audiogram of this episode, are sponsored by the American Association for Anatomy (AAA) at anatomy.org.

Searchable transcript

Captioned audiogram 

Don't forget—HAPS members get a deep discount on AAA membership!

The Anatomy Now Weekly issue with accessibility resources: my-ap.us/30tnHHH

AAA logo

 

Do Students Read the Syllabus?

6.5 minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that was first aired in The Syllabus Episode | Bonus | Episode 24.

Do students read the syllabus? Maybe half? It's the other half who drive us nuts. Wait! do we always read the directions before asking questions?

What is a syllabus? It can be different things, right? Why do administrators seem to love the syllabus so much?

 

Reading & Raiding the Syllabus

14 minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that was first aired in The Syllabus Episode | Bonus | Episode 24.

Some general considerations when designing a syllabus include make sure that students can both read the syllabus through, and raid the syllabus for key information when they need it. The key is simplicity and logic in syllabus design.

 

First-Day Activities

18 minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that was first aired in The Syllabus Episode | Bonus | Episode 24.

Is it just "here's the syllabus; see ya next class"—or is it an engaged look at important syllabus elements? The first day of class is key to starting things off on a good foot. What I learned from Krista, Michael, and Richard—and my own sideways twist on those first steps. What about a syllabus quiz? Is that a good or bad idea?

lecture hall

 

Basic Elements of a Syllabus

13 minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that was first aired in The Syllabus Episode | Bonus | Episode 24.

What exactly goes into a syllabus? Who decides? What are the essentials? This isn't comprehensive, but it gets us started.

who needs a syllabus?

 

Sponsored by HAPI Online Graduate Program

2.5 minutes

The Master of Science in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction—the MS-HAPI—is a graduate program for A&P teachers, especially for those who already have a graduate/professional degree. A combination of science courses (enough to qualify you to teach at the college level) and courses in contemporary instructional practice, this program helps you be your best in both on-campus and remote teaching. Kevin Patton is a faculty member in this program. Check it out!

nycc.edu/hapi

NYCC Human Anatomy and Physiology Instruction

 

More Things to Put in a Syllabus

11.5 minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that was first aired in The Syllabus Episode | Bonus | Episode 24.

Frank O'Neill recommends video walk-throughs, which have the added benefit of letting students know that you really do care about them. Consider also a table contents, abstract/summary, and/or index if the syllabus is long. How about a disclaimer, some playful tidbits, and links to external resources. And make sure your supervisors know what's in your syllabus!

 

Link to Other Resources

8 minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that was first aired in The Syllabus Episode | Bonus | Episode 24.

Consider putting hyperlinks or URLs in the syllabus to take students to other resources. Consider linking to a FAQ page, wher you explain your rationals for doing things the way that you do them in your course.

 

Sponsored by HAPS

1 minute

The Human Anatomy & Physiology Society (HAPS) is a sponsor of this podcast.  You can help appreciate their support by clicking the link below and checking out the many resources and benefits found there. Watch for virtual town hall meetings and upcoming regional meetings!

Anatomy & Physiology Society

theAPprofessor.org/haps

HAPS logo

 

Professionalism as a Course Goal

3 minutes

This segment is adapted from the featured segment in Communication, Clarity, & Medical Errors | Episode 55.

Sometimes a student frets about the A&P course being "not a spelling course" or "not an English course" — but professional communication is an essential skill for health professionals. Why not add this statement to our syllabus and/or other course documents?

Here's an example of an item from my syllabus learning outcomes and objectives from my Pre-A&P course related to professionalism:

  • work independently in a self-paced online science course
    • succeed in taking online tests and exams
    • communicate in professional scientific language, including correct spelling and usage of terminology
    • exhibit ethical professional behavior, including academic integrity

Useful links:

class

 

Syllabus Warnings

15.5 minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that was first published in Warnings & Safety Tips in the A&P Syllabus | Episode 57.

Kevin usually has a Warnings! page in his syllabus or other course documents. It contains three warnings about, and rationale explaining, some important things a student should know before continuing in the A&P course. There is shouting involved.

working together

 

Nuzzel Newsletter

1 minute

In the Nuzzel Newsletter for The A&P Professor, host Kevin Patton selects daily headlines that may be of interest to anatomy and/or physiology faculty. This Nuzzel newsletter is published five days a week (more or less).

To check out the archives of past Nuzzels, or to subscribe, go to: nuzzel.com/theAPprofessor

Nuzzel newsletter

 

Safety Advice

20.5  minutes

This segment is adapted from a segment that was first published in Warnings & Safety Tips in the A&P Syllabus | Episode 57.

We're held responsible (at least in part) for the safety of everyone in our classroom. How best to prepare for and facilitate safety?

fire extinguisher inside

 

Personal Pronouns

2.5 minutes

Introducing our own preferred gender pronouns opens the door for including the personal pronoun preference of student (should that be important to them) and can help connect with our students in ways that improve the learning environment.

 

Long-Long Syllabus

5 minutes

A syllabus could become massive. As with the massiveness of an elephant, the large size may be "just right." But maybe not. There are ways to reduce the size of a syllabus without losing any important content. And there ways to make a large syllabus easier to read and easier to raid. This segment revisits some ideas brought up in earlier parts of this episode.

 


 

If the hyperlinks here are not active, go to TAPPradio.org to find the episode page.

More details at the episode page.

Transcript available in the transcript box.

Listen to any episode on your Alexa device.

Need help accessing resources locked behind a paywall? Check out this advice from Episode 32 to get what you need! https://youtu.be/JU_l76JGwVw?t=440

 


Tools & Resources 
 
Sponsors
 
Transcript and captions for this episode
are supported by the 
 
aprovides marketing support for this podcast. 
 
Distribution of this episode is supported by 
NYCC's online graduate program in 
 
Clicking on sponsor links 
helps let them know you appreciate
their support of this podcast!
 
Follow The A&P Professor on  Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Nuzzel, Tumblr, or Instagram!
 
The A&P Professor® and Lion Den® are registered trademarks of Lion Den Inc. (Kevin Patton)
 
 

Click here to listen to this episode—or access the detailed notes and transcript.