Category Archives: Teaching

(Issue #650) Fahrenheit 451

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Steve Piscitelli

What lessons or warnings did Bradbury present? Re-reading Fahrenheit 451  left me shaking my head. Was this book really written in 1953? (Rhetorical question. It was.) Bradbury wrote about censorship, interactive TV, people connected to technology rather than each other, … Continue reading →

Posted in bullies, censorship, Critical Thinking, curiosity, Education, education reform, ethics, fear, ideologies, Personal growth, question skills, Teaching, teaching and learning, truth, wellbeing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(#404) Risk, Empty Spaces, and Self: Lessons from the Stage

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Steve Piscitelli

“There is no failure in result; there is only failure in process.” Sam Wasson’s Improv Nation: How We Made A Great American Art provides more than an improv history lesson. He deftly lays out a philosophy of life.  For all … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, amplifying, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, Being REMARKABLE, childlike, confidence, Mindfulness, risk-taking, Teaching, teaching and learning, vulnerability, wisdom, Words, Words and Action | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#401) Improv and Leadership

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Steve Piscitelli

Incompetent and fear-based managers rely on rigid scripts. Sam Wasson’s Improv Nation: How We Made a Great American Art provides lessons for transformational leadership. As early Improv players experimented and developed the art form, they learned the power of two … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, Appropriate Behavior, Choice, Civility, collaboration, collegiality, Communication, effective meetings, generativity, growth, improv, professional development, resilience, self-awareness, self-regulatory behavior, Teaching, teaching and learning, vulnerability, wisdom, Words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#387) Lessons from Elementary School

Posted on October 22, 2017 by Steve Piscitelli

Adults, are we listening? Three lessons from elementary school this week. (1) Mrs. Hullender teaches 1st grade at the Atlantic Beach Elementary School. Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to visit her classroom during a mini leadership conference.  That’s right. … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, action, Being REMARKABLE, Goals, Gratitude, habits, happiness, initiative, inspiration, Teaching, teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#327) Structures for Organization: Implications for Teaching and Training

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

Just because it was tossed, doesn’t mean it was caught. Just because it was talked, doesn’t mean it was taught.   How do you define “learning”? And, what causes it? How much of your schooling exposed you to a stream … Continue reading →

Posted in effective teaching, learning, resilience, structures of learning, structures of organization, Teaching, teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#274) Igniting Passion: Seven Superlative Student Stars

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Steve Piscitelli

They spoke directly to the power of teaching and the importance of relationships in life.  This past Thursday I had the honor to deliver the keynote address for the annual faculty convocation at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). The organizers … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Being REMARKABLE, Gratitude, Grit, Living a remarkable life, Making a Difference, Passion, Teaching, teaching and learning, tenacity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#265) That’s Not Teaching. That’s Talking!

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Steve Piscitelli

Teaching and learning need to remain inextricably connected. A few weeks ago I had the honor of being placed in the songwriter’s spotlight at the Atlantic Beach (FL) Songwriters’ Night.  I was humbled to get the invitation and once I was … Continue reading →

Posted in effective teaching, faculty development, leadership, Mindfulness, professional development, Teaching, teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

(#261) Mixing it Up with Your Audience

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Steve Piscitelli

So, go ahead. Mix it up. It will not only energize your audience, it will keep you fresh. A note to my blog followers: This week’s post marks the fifth anniversary for this blog. Thank you for following and sharing my weekly … Continue reading →

Posted in engagement, Learning Styles, public speaking, Teaching, teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#257) Sunsets and Sunrises

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Steve Piscitelli

“You are where I was. And I am where you will be.” This week represents a major life demarcation for me.  After 33 years of classroom teaching, I will be retiring from my college. I am not retiring, however, from my … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, assumptions, awareness, Balance, Being REMARKABLE, change, collegiality, effective teaching, Goals, Gratitude, happiness, Integrity, Life's purpose, Mindfulness, Reflection, resilience, retrospective, Success, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

(#255) Did You Make A Difference? How Do You Know?

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Steve Piscitelli

While this blog post speaks specifically to my teaching colleagues, we can all draw inspiration and clarification when we stop and examine what we do. On my campus, we have two weeks of classes and a week of final exams … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, Reflection, Reflective practice, resilience, Teaching, Values and virtues, wisdom, Year in review | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment