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 »
We can now pin or spotlight the videos of up to nine participants in a Zoom meeting. Pinning a participant’s video means that you only see that particular person’s video. Pinning only affects your view of the video, while spotlighting a participant makes their video become the only video that everyone on the call sees…. Read more »
Often instructors check in with students who are performing poorly. Don’t forget to contact those who are doing well! Tell them you’ve noticed and encourage them to keep up the great work, preferably with specifics about what they are doing well. Whether you want to contact students who are struggling or those who are doing… Read more »
