Active Learning is a term that is almost used generically when we discuss educational interventions. McConnell (1996) defined active learning in the computer science classroom as approaches that “…get students involved in activity in the classroom rather than passively listening to a lecture. Kramer and Nicoletti (2023) note in an article discussing the positive impacts… Read more »
Entries by akesha
Trying something new in your course
Here are a few ideas to consider when trying something new adapted from Tips for Teachers. Can I improve something I am already doing? Before looking to make wholesale changes to your teaching, based on your reflections, identify practices you already do and look for ways to improve them. This should take less time and effort and… Read more »
End of the Semester Tips
The following are a few ideas adapted from the SUNY Teaching and Learning center, that may help you prepare for the Spring semester, and/or update your teaching portfolio: Keep a copy of your syllabus and each assignment you design Your teaching portfolio may include a range of syllabi and assignments you’ve designed. Make sure you… Read more »
Teach AI
TeachAI is an educational resource designed to help education leaders and their communities realize the potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) while addressing the potential risks. While the site is primarily aimed at K-12 educators, it integrates resources specific to higher education, such as Strategies for Teaching Well When Students Have Access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generation… Read more »
Teaching Workload Planner
This customizable Teaching Workload Planner was designed by Loleen Berdahl, the executive director of the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina) to help faculty work through a personal plan for navigating their teaching load. This document provides a list of considerations for planning out your teaching workload by dividing task amongst… Read more »
Interactive Lecturing
In the book, Instructional Moves for Powerful Teaching in Higher Education, there is a chapter on the advantages of interactive lectures. The writers note, “a traditional lecture may feel like an effective, efficient means of communicating information, but when instructors use class time to only profess what they know without interruption, this deprives students of opportunities… Read more »
Exam Debrief
Dawn M. Wiggins, a faculty member in the Mathematics Department at Illinois Valley Community College, argues that exam debriefs can help students see how self-defeating behaviors can negatively affect their results on an exam. However, the debrief she describes (including the questions she asked (see: https://oncourseworkshop.com/self-awareness/exam-debrief/)) goes beyond providing students with the correct answer on the test. Why… Read more »
2023 State of Student Success and Engagement in Higher Education
Instructure, the company that created Canvas, has released the report: The 2023 State of Student Success and Engagement in Higher Education. They worked with Hanover Research to field a survey in 17 countries, asking for the perspectives of 6,100 current students, administrators, and faculty from 2-year, 4-year, public, and private higher education institutions in order to answer… Read more »
Quick Tip: Course Map Guides
A course map is a visual representation of the ways in which your course instruction and assignments align with the learning objectives. Mapping your course allows you to identify where students are learning key concepts and skills, and to make decisions about formative and summative assessments. This Online Course Mapping Guide https://www.coursemapguide.com/ developed at UC San Diego,… Read more »
Incorporating metacognitive practices into your class
Dr. Sandra McGuire https://faculty.lsu.edu/smcgui1/ is an expert in supporting faculty in helping students learn how to learn in their class. She argues that most students come to college underprepared. Specifically, she advocates for metacognitive equity, or closing the gap between students who use metacognition (effective thinking and learning strategies) and those who do not. (https://digital.library.txst.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/0516466a-bf01-4aff-a0ba-9c326f59d464/content). She argues… Read more »