{"id":25135,"date":"2026-05-04T14:51:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T18:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/?p=25135"},"modified":"2026-05-04T14:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T18:51:26","slug":"we-recommend-connect-with-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2026\/05\/04\/we-recommend-connect-with-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"We Recommend – Connect with Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

May 2025<\/span><\/h2>\n

Recommended by Anabel Livengood, Senior Educational Developer<\/span><\/p>\n

While we have books, articles, and podcasts\u00a0<\/span><\/span>en<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>mass<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we could recommend, we thought we\u00a0<\/span><\/span>would change<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it up a bit\u00a0<\/span><\/span>this month to give you space to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>breath<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and connect with nature at the end of the semester<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(your to-read pile is not going to run away!)<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The cliff notes\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on the positive impact\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from the\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>American Psychological Association<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>spending time in nature<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>or feeling connected to nature\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are linked to cognitive benefits and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>improvements in mood, mental\u00a0<\/span><\/span>health<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and emotional well-being<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/05\/We-Recommend-Connect-with-Nature-e1777920494162-1024×425.png” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” alt=”Coulter Faculty Commons, We Recommend: Connect with Nature. Image of Jackson County Greenways bridge in Sylva.” title_text=”We Recommend – Connect with Nature” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_margin=”-19px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin=”-29px|auto||auto||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Did you know that a certified forest therapy trail is just a short drive away from campus?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can walk the trail by yourself anytime\u00a0or attend\u00a0an\u00a0<\/span>event<\/span><\/a>\u00a0hosted by the\u00a0<\/span>Friends of the Jackson County Greenways<\/span><\/a>. They offer\u00a0<\/span>Nature Journaling<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in May,\u00a0<\/span>Summer Solstice\u00a0Shinrin-Yoku<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in June,\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Macroinvertebrates along the Jackson County Greenway<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in July.\u00a0If you\u00a0rather want\u00a0to\u00a0explore the greenway by yourself, you might find the\u00a07-page\u00a0<\/span>self-guided\u00a0forest trail\u00a0brochure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0put together by the Friends of the Jackson County Greenways helpful.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Living and working in this region, we are all privileged to have access to\u00a0many\u00a0green\u00a0spaces,\u00a0and we hope you will use this summer to get out more and enjoy nature\u2019s beauty around you.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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To access the full collection of teaching-related recommendations,
\nvisit CFC\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0We Recommend<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

May 2025 Recommended by Anabel Livengood, Senior Educational Developer While we have books, articles, and podcasts\u00a0en\u00a0masse\u00a0that\u00a0we could recommend, we thought we\u00a0would change\u00a0it up a bit\u00a0this month to give you space […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3390,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

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April 2026<\/span><\/h2>

Recommended by April Tallant, CFC Director<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I am\u00a0<\/span>a big fan<\/span>\u00a0of podcasts. Most of the podcasts I listen to are for leisure, providing me with an escape from everyday\u00a0<\/span>reality<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>In my experience, podcasts about academia have been\u00a0<\/span>hit or\u00a0<\/span>miss<\/span>\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0until recently<\/span>\u00a0when\u00a0<\/span>I stumbled across James Madison University\u2019s Center for Fac<\/span>ulty Innovation<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0(CFI) Faculty Lounge\u00a0<\/span>podcast<\/span>. You can access the p<\/span>odcast\u00a0<\/span>on t<\/span>heir\u00a0<\/span><\/span>website<\/span><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Apple Podcasts<\/span><\/span><\/a>,<\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>YouTube<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"3_5,2_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"3_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.6\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>

In<\/span>\u00a0listening to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>episode 15, Connection is the Curriculum: A Conversation with Dr. Julie Gochenour<\/span><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>I found myself\u00a0<\/span>being inspired and contemplating ways I could\u00a0<\/span>apply her strategies to my own context. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Dr. Julie Gochenour\u00a0is a lecturer in the School of Communication Studies (SCOM), and winner of both the Madison Vision in Teaching award and the School of Communication Studies Lectur<\/span>er of the Year award.\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>n the podcast, she spoke about using engaging lectures<\/span>\u00a0and provided strategies for commun<\/span>icating with students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"2_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_video src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RRVYvtV3jrY&list=PLHZ-JbpNYYQezRvBw61secSCnV5akchmO&index=5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.6\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-15px|auto||auto||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.6\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>

The following are\u00a0<\/span>Dr. Gochenour\u2019s three rules for post-modern communication that she applies to connect with her students and help them learn.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

  1. We learn what we discover.<\/span><\/b> Dr. Gochenour says that the learning starts when students discover for themselves. She takes a \u201cguide on the side\u201d rather than \u201cthe sage on the stage\u201d approach, helping students explore and discover course content for themselves.<\/span>
    <\/span><\/li>
  2. The universe is found in the\u00a0specific.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0She\u00a0captures attention by\u00a0bringing\u00a0relevance to the classroom,\u00a0using real life examples, either that she provides or that\u00a0she asks\u00a0her students\u00a0to\u00a0come up with.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  3. Only\u00a0the\u00a0personal is\u00a0contagious.<\/span><\/b> Dr. Gochenour contends that if we as instructors don\u2019t buy it, then students won\u2019t either. She recommends being your authentic self and sharing the love for your discipline in your teaching. Showing your passion about your discipline with your students is an effective way to facilitate their learning.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

    Dr. Gochenour\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>rules<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reflect evidence-based teaching practices. By structuring learning environments where students\u00a0<\/span>explore to construct meaning, using relevant examples,\u00a0<\/span>making the connection<\/span>\u00a0itself<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>instructional,<\/span>\u00a0she creates\u00a0<\/span>a fertile ground for student learning<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Tune in to hear Dr. Gochenour<\/span>\u2019s 27-minute conversation with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Dr. Eric Magrum, Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0Faculty Associate at JMU\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0Center for\u00a0<\/span>Faculty Innovation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I hope you find the conversation just as refreshing and insightful as I did, and that it supports you as you engage with your students during the final stretch of the spring semester.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

    [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.6\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>

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    To access the full collection of teaching-related recommendations,
    visit CFC\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0    We Recommend<\/a>.<\/p>