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 »
Tag: course design
Is the Gamification fad truly over?
Gamification of learning emerged as a pedagogy in the early to mid-2000s with a “fad”ish following in higher education. But is the fad over? Maybe not! Another look may be warranted. Much has improved in learning technology since the early 2000s and the majority of Americans ages 18-29 say they often/sometimes play video games. Gamification… Read more »
Summer of Learning with CITL | Part II
Finals are being completed, grades are being posted, and the semester wrap up is well underway. Meanwhile, at the CITL we are gearing up for a summer of learning. We have several Institutes as well as workshops prepared to help you with any part of your course you are considering. Some of our larger efforts… Read more »
Realistic Student Expectations
Research suggests college students rarely complete learning tasks such as applying, evaluating, or synthesizing knowledge and instead complete tasks that require remembering and understanding information. Our expectations for students tend to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. When we communicate high, but attainable expectations for our students, they will make significant learning gains. When designing a course,… Read more »
Emphasize Time on Task
Outside of class, students should spend 2 hours preparing for every 1 credit hour (i.e. 6 hours per week outside of class for a 3 credit hour class). However, most students only spend 1 hour preparing per credit hour (i.e. 3 hours per week for a 3 credit hour class). During this hour, students often… Read more »