This guest post is from Dr. Amy Berndtson, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology. Last semester, when teaching 300 student online in a gate-way biology course, I discovered the power of using Canvas Gradebook to quickly contact my students about missing assignments as well as poor or strong performance on a particular assignment. More… Read more »
If you’re struggling to find new ways to engage your students in synchronous online class sessions, you’re not alone. Jennifer Terrell and Chase McCoy, instructors who teach a large lower-division course in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, were also looking for new activities to help their students learn course concepts in synchronous… Read more »
Wondering how to set a welcoming tone, get to know your students, and engage everyone from the first day of classes? Use icebreakers to reduce the awkwardness of introductions, build an inclusive learning community, and offer students the opportunity to practice participating. The right icebreaker helps students apply course content and enhance their learning. Plus,… Read more »
Throughout consultations and events this fall, instructors have shared that the “magic” of their typical, in-person class wasn’t as strong in their online or hybrid courses. The common thread among all the stories is that instructors are missing the closeness felt among students in the class. These stories drive me as a graduate student studying… Read more »
If you are looking for new ways to teach using Zoom, I recommend reading Dan Levy’s book, Teaching Effectively with Zoom, and its companion site. The book provides brief explanations of Zoom features, along with the how and why of using them. Examples from instructors using Zoom, along with their tips, provide a wealth of… Read more »
This is a guest Quick Tip from Meghan Porter, Department of Chemistry Time is precious in live online classes. So, how can we find the time to build community, have students develop a comfort level with each other, and encourage them to arrive on time and be ready to go without sacrificing those far-too-few minutes?… Read more »
