Teaching & Learning Links of the Week: March 24, 2017

Teaching & Learning Links to See This Week

A roundup of four intriguing or informative posts and articles from the around the internet:

"Why Won't They Ask Us for Help"

The results of a survey of students indicate some of the biggest reasons (including student, environmental, and instructor factors) as to why students do not seek out the help they need from instructors. 

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-classroom-management/wont-ask-us-help/ 

"5 Ways College Teachers Can Improve Their Instruction"

Author Norman Eng offers pedagogical tips from a K-12 and marketing perspective.

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/teaching-college/ 

"How to Teach Students How to Read on Screens, And Why You Might Want To"

Digital literacy skills are becoming increasingly essential for all students to be successful in college. This article shares some helpful strategies for both instructors and students.

http://www.chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/how-to-teach-students-how-to-read-on-screens-and-why-you-might-want-to/63789 

"When Students Self-Segregate"

One professor shares his thoughts and observations as he wrestles with the question of how to handle (if at all) situations in which students students self-segregate in the classroom.

https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2017/03/24/professor-explores-why-his-students-self-segregate-essay 

Do you know of an interesting article that you would like to share with the ATLE community? Let us know! Email atle@usf.edu

Teaching & Learning Links of the Week: March 17, 2017

A roundup of four intriguing posts and articles from around the Internet

The Distracted Classroom

Every teacher is eventually confronted with the distractions posed by digital devices in the classroom. This article offers an interesting take on this ubiquitous problem and how teachers can approach it, all based on a new book detailing the cognitive neuroscience of distraction.

http://www.chronicle.com/article/The-Distracted-Classroom/239446?cid=FEATUREDNAV

Doing "Participation Points" Right

Awarding points for participating in class discussions is a common tactic for extrinsically motivating students to take an active role in their learning. This article offers helpful advice for implementing a participation points system and provides an "engagement rubric" that can be used to score student participation and, perhaps more importantly, to communication to students what they should do to be an active learner.

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/participation-points-making-student-engagement-visible/

Measuring Active Learning in the Classroom?

Many teachers strive to promote active learning in their classrooms, but how can they know how active their classroom really is? This article describes an app named Decibel Analysis for Research in Teaching (DART), which analyzes classroom speech patterns to provide a rough measure of how "active" a classroom is. This article highlights the broader question: How can active learning be measured?

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/03/07/study-details-tool-help-professors-measure-amount-active-learning-happening-their

From Virtual Reality Consumption to Creation

Virtual reality is beginning to find its place in certain educational settings, but as of now creating virtual reality content seems out of reach for the typical teacher or student. This article describes efforts to make possible virtual reality content creation for education.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-03-14-the-minecraft-effect-educators-hope-to-move-students-from-vr-consumption-to-creation

Teaching & Learning Links of the Week: February 10, 2017

A roundup of four intriguing posts and articles from around the Internet.

Lowering the Stakes With Online Writing

Engaging students in introductory composition courses can be challenging. This post details one instructor's success in increasing students' engagement (and performance) through the use of low-stakes writing assignments on Tumblr.

https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/lowering-stakes-online-writing-case-study

Assessment Strategies for the Flipped Classroom

Successfully teaching a flipped class requires regular use of assessment to gauge the degree to which students are prepared to engage in in-class learning experiences. This article provides four strategies for conducting assessment in the flipped classroom.

http://www.facultyfocus.com/resources/blended-and-flipped/grading-feedback/four-strategies-effective-assessment-flipped-learning-environment/

Designing a Humanities Lab

Who says scientific disciplines are the only ones that can or should have laboratories? This post discusses the formation of a lab in the humanities and the positive impact the lab has had on students' learning and engagement.

http://www.chronicle.com/article/Designing-a-Lab-in-the/239132

Two Myths About Teaching and Learning

This brief blog post discusses two elements of "common knowledge" about teaching and learning that, while commonly believed, are not supported by empirical evidence. It includes links to additional information for those interested.

http://teachinginhighered.com/2017/02/01/2-persistent-myths-teaching-learning/

Teaching & Learning Links of the Week Jan. 27, 2017

A roundup of four intriguing or informative posts and articles from around the internet:

“The Benefits of Peer Learning”

 

Peer teaching (where students learn from and with each other) is one approach among many available to teachers to promote learning. Students generally feel safer asking other students and they speak each other’s language. When this approach is selected purposefully, and planned and evaluated carefully, it leads to improved learning experience.

https://goo.gl/SujZIA

“3 Ways You Can Use Name Tags to Engage Students”

Many faculty have students use name tags or table tents on the first day of class to reduce anonymity and establish rapport. In this post, the author shares three ways to improve engagement and collaboration among students using name tags. For example. Use different name tag colors to instantly form groups or pick students with different name tag color to answer questions.

https://goo.gl/OcZ8NS

 

“Bridging the Gap between Pre-Work and In-Class Sessions in the Flipped Classroom”

 

In flipped classroom, students do pre-class preparation and come to class to apply content or solve problems related to what they have prepared. In this article, the author shares four different low-tech strategies that can help your students connect with your classroom pre-work; 1) class discussion points, 2) case studies, 3) students as teachers and 4) birds of a feather.

https://goo.gl/KXiPu2

“How to Undermine Your Own Authority”

The author argues that we need to convince students that they should learn for themselves and not just for the grade. He suggests giving students some ownership and control over the course, which means we have to give up some of our control. Some interesting tips to undermine your own authority and give students control are offered.

https://chroniclevitae.com/news/1670-how-to-undermine-your-own-authority

Teaching & Learning Links of the Week: January 20, 2017

A roundup of four intriguing or informative posts and articles from around the internet:

“Five Ways to Make Your Online Classrooms More Interactive”

Online courses can feel impersonal for students and teachers. Here are some tips to provide community and create meaningful interactions.

 http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/five-ways-make-online-classrooms-interactive/

 “A Dozen Things You Need to Know about Adult Learning”

Twelve characteristics of adult learners and their implications for the classroom.   

 https://tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/1529

“Active Engagement: The New Currency for 21st Century Learners”

Tips and examples of how to include active engagement activities in your class.

http://scholarlyteacher.com/2016/12/08/active-engagement-the-new-currency-for-21st-century-learners/

“President Trump”

Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated today as the 45th president of the United States. This article features background on the new president and higher education. 

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/01/20/backgrounder-trump-campaign-and-policies-higher-education

Teaching & Learning Links of the Week: January 13, 2017

Teaching & Learning Links to See This Week

A roundup of four intriguing or informative posts and articles from the around the internet:

"Stealth Gifted? Bringing Out Hidden Abilities in Your College Classes"

Have you ever sensed that some of your students may be capable of more than it appears? The author provides strategies for fostering the abilities of these students.

http://scholarlyteacher.com/2017/01/12/stealth-gifted-bringing-out-hidden-abilities-in-your-college-classes/ 

"Collaboration or Cheating: What are the Distinctions?"

When does working together towards a goal shift into sharing answers? A thought-provoking discussion about identifying the differences.

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/collaboration-cheating-distinctions/

"The Spark of Learning"

Sarah Rose Cavanagh shares about The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion* on episode #135 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.

http://teachinginhighered.com/podcast/the-spark-of-learning/ 

"If I Knew Then What I Know Now: Grading Contract Advice"

Disclaimers and words of wisdom for employing a grading contract with your students.

https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/just-visiting/if-i-knew-then-what-i-know-now-grading-contract-advice 

Do you know of an interesting article that you would like to share with the ATLE community? Let us know! Email atle@usf.edu

Teaching & Learning Links of the Week: Nov. 28, 2016

A roundup of four intriguing posts and articles from around the Internet.

Enhancing Learning through Zest, Grit, and Sweat

Lolita Paff identified three overlooked aspects of teaching that need to be promoted; (1) encouraging student intellectual curiosity, interest, and enthusiasm (zest), (2) an understanding that true long-lasting learning takes effort, hard and smart work (sweat), and (3) an academic growth mindset, perseverance and persistence (grit). Author gives tips on how to implement each of these three aspects in class.

https://goo.gl/Ztm0Bi

Ugly Consequences of Complaining about ‘Students These Days’

Frequent venting about students who come unprepared to class or who are willing to cheat can turn into complaining and that may change our mindset about our students over time. Consequently, this mindset may change the instructional design environment, the way we teach in class or the number of preventative policies we apply.

https://goo.gl/ZRc4av

All Learning is an Active Process: Rethinking Active/Passive Learning Debate- How Faculty Can Create Learning Opportunities in Overtly Passive Environments

Todd Zakrajsek proposes that it is time to differentiate passive learning from being in passive environment and suggests how to maximize learning in both active and passive environments. For learning to happen, several factors are involved regardless of how information is experienced. When you attend to the information, when presented information has value to you, easy to understand, you are allowed time to practice recalling/ reflecting, and you are physically and emotionally ready to process the information (e.g. not too tired), then the probability learning will take place increases greatly.

http://scholarlyteacher.com/2016/11/23/all-learning-is-an-active-process-rethinking-activepassive-learning-debate/

Contingent Faculty Positions

Who are "contingent faculty"? Depending on the institution, they can be known as adjuncts, postdocs, TAs, non-tenure-track faculty, clinical faculty, part-timers, lecturers, instructors, or nonsenate faculty. What they all have in common: they serve in insecure, unsupported positions with little job security and few protections for academic freedom. And they are the vast majority of US faculty today. Something needs to change.

https://www.aaup.org/issues/contingency

Teaching & Learning Links of the Week: Nov. 18, 2016

A roundup of four intriguing posts and articles from around the Internet.

Teaching Students How to Manage Feedback

Feedback is central to learning, yet some students struggle to utilize instructor feedback effectively. This article details a framework for thinking about different types of feedback and provides three tips for instructors interested in teaching their students how to best manage feedback.

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/teaching-students-manage-feedback/

Stop Assigning Team Projects...Unless...

Many instructors assign team projects for all the right reasons, but the teamwork students engage in ends up being less than ideal. This post encourages instructors assigning team projects to first teach students how to work in teams, and it provides several tips for how to do this effectively.

http://scholarlyteacher.com/2016/11/10/stop-assigning-team-projects-unless/

The Vitae Bookshelf: Kevin Gannon

Kevin Gannon, Professor of History and Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Grand View University, details his five favorite books on teaching and learning.

https://chroniclevitae.com/news/1582-the-vitae-bookshelf-kevin-gannon


'Augmented Intelligence' for Higher Ed

IBM is partnering with Pearson and Blackboard to bring the cognitive computing power of Watson to higher education. What role might Watson play in higher ed, and when? This article discusses what is currently known about the project.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/11/16/blackboard-pearson-join-ibms-ecosystem-bring-watson-technology-higher-ed

Canvas Camp, Friday, October 28th, SOC 159

 Canvas Camp Agenda 

9:00-9:45	Starting the Semester ·         Required course elements ·         Policies and deadlines ·         Starting out on the right foot	Kevin Yee, ATLE kyee@usf.edu
9:45-10:30	Designing Courses ·         Motivating and inspiring students ·         Preventing confusion ·         “Keep It Simple” principle	Amanda Helip-Wooley, ATLE ahelip@usf.edu
10:30-11:15	Engaging Students ·         Ensuring participation ·         Maintaining their interest ·         Making Canvas interactive	Sara Friedman and Oana Cîmpean, ATLE spfriedm@usf.edu oanacimpean@usf.edu
11:15-12:00	Efficient & Effective Assessment (w/ Canvas) ·         Advanced assignment settings ·         Grading efficiently and fairly ·         Providing useful feedback	Emad Mansour and Ross Metusalem, ATLE emansour@usf.edu rmetusalem@usf.edu
12:00-1:00	LUNCH
1:00-3:00	Teaching Online ·         Online structure   ·         Online assessment and practice ·         Online content ·         Online interaction and collaboration Advanced Topics ·         Plagiarism and proctoring	Lindsey Mercer, Innovative Education lmercer@usf.edu LaSaundria Glenn-Bass, Innovative Education lasaundria@usf.edu Victor Ventor, Innovative Education vventor@usf.edu

Teaching and Learning Links of the Week: October 21, 2016

A roundup of four intriguing or informative posts and articles from around the internet:

“Getting More out of Exam Debriefs”

Using exam debriefs as an opportunity for students to encounter content they haven’t yet learned and to confront the efficacy of their study habits.

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/getting-exam-debriefs/

 “Small Groups, Significant Impact: A Review of Peer-Led Team Learning Research with Implications for STEM Education Researchers and Faculty”

A review of sixty-seven peer-reviewed studies on Peer-Led Team Learning, spanning a variety of STEM disciplines and institution types.  

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00862

“The Biggest Crisis in Higher Ed Isn't Student Debt, It's Students Who Don't Graduate”

The president of Arizona State University addresses the fact that more than half of those who start college fail to finish.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/biggest-crisis-higher-ed-isnt-student-debt-its-students-michael-crow

“Open Doors: A New Take on Teaching Observations”

A two-day event sponsored by Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching that allows interested faculty and graduate students to visit some of the most well-respected and awarded teachers across campus. 

http://www.chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/open-doors-a-new-take-on-teaching-observations/62887

Teaching & Learning Links of the Week: October 14, 2016

A roundup of four intriguing posts and articles from around the Internet.

When a Class Clicks

Building classroom community can greatly enhance the learning experience. This article details four tips for fostering a sense of community among your students.

https://chroniclevitae.com/news/1566-when-a-class-clicks

A Simple Invitation: Please See Me!

Sometimes a brief conversation with a struggling student is enough to get that student back on track. This article discusses the themes of a successful intervention through conversation. 

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/simple-invitation-please-see/

How to Integrate Intercultural Learning into Your Classroom

Many educators and employers agree that intercultural awareness and global competence are central to success in an increasingly diverse and interconnected society. This article provides tips for incorporating intercultural learning into your class.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/global_learning/2016/10/how_to_integrate_intercultural_learning_into_your_classroom.html

Students Need to Develop Two Key Habits to Have a Fruitful College Experience

Getting the most out of college is challenging. This article argues that a truly transformative college experience requires students to develop meaningful relationships with peers and teachers and to take responsibility for their own learning.

http://qz.com/760550/students-need-to-embrace-change-and-develop-relationships-to-have-a-good-college-experience/