Over four years of study, Kevin Binning and co-researchers replaced student doubt about “Do I really belong here?” with the belief that adversity is universal and temporary. Their 30-minute exercise includes narrative writing, peer testimonials, and small group discussion that not only closes performance gaps between underrepresented and majority groups, and between genders, but also… Read more »
Teaching Strategies
Journaling, Observing, and Reflecting on our Teaching
As an instructor, you’ve got grading to do, students to meet with, and lessons to plan. When you’re facing all this work, it might seem unrealistic to add “reflect on teaching” to your task list. However, studies have shown that reflecting on your teaching improves the classroom experience for your students (through better learning) and… Read more »
Devices in the Classroom: To Ban or Not to Ban?
Interested in this topic? There is still time to register for our March 22 SoTL talk on “Helping Students Learn in an Age of Digital Distraction” by Katie Linder from Oregon State University. Register here. If you’ve ever faced a room full of students who seem to be paying more attention to their laptops or… Read more »
Say It Right with NameCoach: Pronouncing Student Names
Do you have trouble pronouncing your students’ names, or is your own name a real tongue twister for some? NameCoach, a new default app embedded into Canvas, can help you and your students pronounce one another’s names correctly. Here are some examples of using NameCoach in effective and engaging ways. Build relationships with your students… Read more »
Finishing the Semester Strongly
The semester is nearing its end, and it is easy to just grind out the last few weeks before finals, like the last mile of a long race. Just like in a race, though, it is often that final stretch that really counts, both for your performance and how you feel about it, so it… Read more »
Teaching for Democracy
Knowing that in 2014 only 9% of students at IUB voted, instructors need to take the lead in developing citizenship skills and challenging their students to participate in democracy. According to Nancy Thomas, “Learning for democracy should be a national priority, and our colleges and universities need to lead this charge.” Is taking a few… Read more »