Why Carollo is a Master Teacher

I wrote the following article for The Axis, the student published newspaper at UWS.

"The notes go on to say… Are you with me? Now, I don't want to insult anybody."

I sometimes wonder if I'm the only student that occasionally thinks back on those phrases with a nostalgic longing. As strange as they seemed during those first weeks of Spinal Anatomy, it didn't take long for me to associate those key phrases with Jim Carollo's melodic methodology, calm demeanor, and sincere concern for each student. Certainly, Jim Carollo is not the easiest teacher at UWS. I'm still reeling from the slap in the face that was a hard-earned B in Neuroanatomy. Yet, in all my years of being a student, I have not found a professor who was able to motivate me to focus harder, study more, and prepare more diligently for a class than Jim.

I'm no educational expert. In fact, my official transcript shows I'm lacking a lot of skills in that arena. But, I have spent the past 6 years working in an educational support position, and have been privileged to be a fly on the wall during some intense and informative presentations by educational experts. I've also spent time researching the learning process to improve my study habits and get up to par with others in my class. Over those years, I've picked up on some particular things that master teachers do – habits or techniques they employ while teaching – and I see all of them in Jim Carollo, even if he isn't aware of them. I'd like to highlight just a few of them.

Explicit Instruction

The most effective teachers provide instruction that is systematic, direct, engaging, and success oriented. Anita Archer, Ph.D., at University of Oregon School of Education, teaches this technique as a set of specific patterns, phrases, and actions to educators around the country. Learners can acquire information in two ways. First, they can discover new things on their own, such as how a two year old learns how chocolate cake does not taste the same as the brown stuff in the backyard. Second, learners can be instructed by another person who has previously acquired the information. Dr. Archer explains, "Explicit instruction is helpful … when discovery may be inaccurate, inadequate, incomplete, or inefficient."

Repetition

Explicit instruction relies heavily on repetition. Not necessarily rote, monotonous repetition, but the type that offers multiple exposures to a piece of information using a variety of modalities. You've no doubt heard of The Seven Learning Styles (visual, auditory, verbal, kinesthetic, etc.). While there is no research to support the idea that a particular student learns best in one discrete way, plenty of studies show that information is retained better when multiple modes of learning are utilized. Hearing a description, writing a definition, and then drawing a diagram serve to strengthen neuronal connections and consolidate a memory.

(S)low-Tech

As much as I love the newest gadget, listening to podcasts, and having my eyes glued to my smart-phone throughout the day, I have to admit that I appreciate an old-school approach to teaching. Marian Diamond is a Ph.D. neuroscientist and professor of general anatomy at U.C. Berkeley. She still uses the chalkboard to teach her undergraduate pre-med students. At the beginning of each semester she takes a moment to explain why she does not use PowerPoint. "I've studied learning mechanisms long enough to know that it takes time to take in the primary information and associate it. If I just flash [things on the screen] you don't get it. If you write, you use your kinesthetic sense. It slows me down, it slows you down. I also repeat all the time. The first time through you have an ionic exchange. The second time through you have protein synthesis. So, we're using things that have been shown for learning rather than just keeping up with the technology."

Il Maestro

As you can see, Jim Carollo makes use of all of these teaching skills and more. He clearly and explicitly outlines the information to be covered in each lecture. He does not hesitate to repeat a word or definition multiple times. He ensures that the majority of the class is on task with a variety of rhetorical questions before advancing to the next 35mm slide or filling in the notes on the overhead projector. Like an experienced conductor at The Schnitzer Concert Hall, Carollo orchestrates each lecture and provides ample opportunity for all students to have a positive educational experience in basic sciences.

The Sound of Smaug

Lately, I've been fascinated by sound. Particularly the sound of the recorded voice. In movies, interviews, acoustic songs… the sound of a recorded voice is so intimate and raw. It's a great way to hear stories. I love stories that are told just with the voice, like the ones you hear on This American Life or the Kickstarter project, This Wild Idea. And the stories my grandpa would tell.

My curiosity was piqued after finally watching V for Vendetta about a year ago, which features the marvelous voice of Hugo Weaving as the man behind the Anonymous mask. I was intrigued by the clarity, richness, and closeness of the sound. Listen to a bit of it here.

I've since learned that most movies use a technique called ADR, or Automated Dialogue Replacement. The actor is brought into a soundproof audio studio with exceptional microphones, watch the footage of there scenes, and attempt a sort of reverse-lip-syncing. They speak their lines in sync with the video of themselves speaking on set. It usually takes many tries. Here's an awesome video of a similar recording process of voice actors for animated films.

(Of course, there's a lot that happens after the recording, such as mixing which is perhaps more important.)

Another voice that is just absolutely captivating is that of Benedict Cumberbatch. Much of the strength of Khan in the most recent Star Trek is portrayed through the dialogue and monologues of Cumberbatch. He was also the voice of the dragon, Smaug, in the second Hobbit movie released last Christmas.

I decided to play around a bit after watching The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug and feeling inspired by the voice that was crafted by the actor and sound engineers. I wondered what I would sound like with a little editing. Here is my "impersonation" of the voice of Smaug.

If you want to hear the real Smaug, check out this full feature on the sound of the most recent Hobbit movie.

Christmas in Yellowstone

Years ago, while at home for the holidays, I happened to watch a PBS special called Christmas in Yellowstone. It shared the experiences of a photographer, Tom Murphy, who has crossed the park on skis each winter. I was completely enthralled and wanted to experience the beauty of the wild and unblemished wilderness during the coldest months of the year.

This past Christmas, my family did not gather together in San Diego as we usually do. Mom went to Canada to be with her sister, my younger brother Andy stayed in Arizona with his family in their new home. I was a bit distraught at the idea of spending Christmas alone. Then I remembered Christmas in Yellowstone. I packed my camping gear and my old Nikon D50 and opened the Audible app on my iPhone to listen to another survival book during the 13 hour drive.

The park was quiet with only one or two other vehicles in the campground. The first night brought about 4 inches of snow, but the skies were clear for the next two days.

My old DSLR was having a fit in the freezing temps, though, and I only managed to get a handful of decent photos during the Wake Up to Wildlife tour. But I enjoyed the wild stillness of the park on a couple of hikes and snowshoe trips.