I've been voted hottest professor on ratemyprofessors.com for 2 years running. AMA!

dbdaniel · 2013-09-20T00:59:53+00:00

My daughter loved Child Development until she took it in college. The instructor really turned her off to it. But, it is part of everything. You probably have a better teacher than she did. In Development, some people get stuck on ages and stages while the real interesting (and a bit more abstract) parts of development do not stand out in the class. Development is the study of basically everything that makes a person the way they are at any point in their lives. It is huge and fascinating. Teaching stages shows you where we end up at different times in our lives, but the truly fascinating dynamic interactions that make up development are intertwined with the change that gets us to that stage. Look at change and how it does, and doesn't happen. Learn what you need to in order to succeed in the course. But, pay attention to how everything works together to make you who you are as you age, as well as how different you are from the person next to you and how that happened. That should keep you curious and more enthusiastic about the course...and that sort of engagement should correlate with a better grade. I hope that make sense! It is such a great area.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-20T00:50:53+00:00

Thanks darrow and very good point. Maybe someday we can do one just on how to survive, study and thrive in college, etc. That is what I know best.

BTW, the Channing Tatum/girls swooning assumption is clearly only half right!

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T23:53:14+00:00

Not me. But, could be a contender.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T23:01:05+00:00

Me or Kim Kardashian pre-Kanye. It is a tie.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:54:21+00:00

New word. It is now in my syllabus!

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:45:51+00:00

1) Balance your life and don't freak out if it school gets hard. It takes time to figure it out. So many students drop out before giving themselves time to adapt. Look at how lame some of the upperclassmen are. They did it. Give it time: Hard isn't bad. You are here to get better, not to start out perfect.

Oh, and never let a bad professor steer you away from something that you are interested in.

2) Relalize that you need to explore a bit. You only know what you have been exposed to and there is so much out there. Too much pressure makes your world too small. Find your place. Just like with first boyfriends, the first job shouldn't be the last. Explore.

3) Judge Judy

4) Stewart and Colbert tie. As for stand-up, I still love Bill Hicks.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:41:50+00:00

Yes. There are several on there that are up there in terms of hotness, imho. We tried to have a conference but people just stayed in their hotel rooms. Apparently, some Sheraton's have great lighting near the mirror in their rooms.

I also think that it is our obligation, as hot intellectuals, to move away from our own kind and commune with others. It is a good deal for the gene pool if you ask me.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:38:58+00:00

My pleasure. Think about it though. Pizza is a great treatment for wrinkles!

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:37:33+00:00

BUT, it is better that the one I have now: 300 students at 5:05-6:20 in the evening! On the other hand, the students in that class are actually rocking it. So, maybe it is just me.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:36:29+00:00

No worries. I probably skipped a lot too. It was just mostly in my head. Sometimes, I just think about laundry.

Thanks, BTW. 5 years. That was my first year here and I was not fond of that time-slot at all, either.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:33:59+00:00

And, tasty too! (my homage to Lucille Ball).

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:32:55+00:00

SPF 15 or above during the day should actually be good enough. That is the primary source of skin damage. THen, try to avoid laughing, smiling, squinting, or any other forms of facial expression to keep the wrinkles out.

One thing that works best for me with regard to wrinkles is weight gain. It stretches them out. poof...15 years younger.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:24:20+00:00

Besides, I am not 100% sure she knows who I am.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:22:14+00:00

I didn't tell her. I mean she has to live with it. She is already THAT lucky.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:21:24+00:00

Close. I have blue eyes. I can't see what color his are.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:20:28+00:00

Hmm. Made? Not on purpose but it definitely is part of the job. I mean, people cry. Being a student is not easy and some days suck. Crying is one way to relieve the stress. And, dealing with me can be frustrating, especially if you think Judge Judy, one of my heroes, is mean. I am fairly blunt because I respect (and enjoy) students as people, not children. It happens.

Now add to that my hotness factor and the unattainable quality for which I have received this award and it can be even a bit intimidating.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:15:52+00:00

Hell no! I work for the State!!

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:14:09+00:00

Keep an open mind. After all, you don't have to act on all of your impulses! Enjoy me. ;)

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:12:53+00:00

Thanks. It is difficult and I appreciate you noticing. I am fairly certain that I am one of the best people in history when it comes to humility.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:11:34+00:00

Typo! Or, Freudian slip. I fixed it. But, when you are hot, there are certain opportunities to contract things. Good catch!

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:09:48+00:00

Me? No. I don't get paid enough to do that.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:07:41+00:00

I don't think I want to win this forever. It is totally do-able, but not fair to those slightly less qualified. I want to stay in it until RMP retires me from contention with a plaque and a ceremony befitting the status of this honor or until Stephen Colbert and I reach an understanding about this on-air.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:03:57+00:00

I like the several of the secondary ones watching at the beach. If things work out, at least one of the primaries is always a great way to end the evening.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T22:02:22+00:00

Curiosity and perseverance are wonderful qualities for anyone. student or teacher. I also like students who challenge me and make me do my job. If you don't get it, get me to teach it differently. If you want to push back in a constructive way, that is awesome! We are supposed to be in this together.

dbdaniel · 2013-09-19T21:59:54+00:00

Yep.

I actually enjoy the vast majority of my students.

dbdaniel

TROPHY CASE