Want to know what Denison faculty and staff think about Equity? Watch this week’s ETS Word of the Week: Transformation. You can also catch the last three weeks of videos on community, technology, and equity on the playlist here. ETS used these interviews to design the August sessions for faculty, which started last week and continue for the rest of this week.
CfLT Newsletter
The posts below are from the CfLT newsletter which includes curated, research-based digital resources to support ongoing faculty development and pedagogical engagement. As of August 2025, CfLT Director Karen Spierling oversees the content. Posts from July 2020-May 2025 were compiled by previous Director Lew Ludwig.
Tidbit – what’s the right amount of reading?
A reading list is a tricky thing. You want to assign enough for students to get a better understanding of the topic, but how much is too much? Checkout the Course Workload Estimator at Rice University. In this Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, co-creator Dr. Betsy Barre explains why she created the estimator and how it is used.
Tech – Pronouncing Student Names
We all know that names are important and pronunciation matters. In a recent Times Higher Education article, the authors discuss just how important correct pronunciation can be for our students, and also provide tips for Chinese names in particular. If you struggle with name pronunciation, you might be interested in one of the newest Notebowl features available for students and faculty.
Teaching – the first day of class
I’ve had quite a few first days since I taught my first class (last century, cough cough). Regardless, I’ve always reviewed Lang’s How to Teach a Good First Day of Class since it first appeared in the Chronicle a few years ago. It is always updated for the new school year and focuses on four key concepts to help set a productive first impression:
- Curiosity
- Community
- Learning
- Expectations
The article is chockfull of good ideas and useful tips that can be skimmed quickly.
Tidbit – How a Pandemic can Inform our Syllabi
As I write, the Delta variant is still spreading and health protocols are in flux. But there are several things we have learned from the pandemic with regard to teaching. Prior to the pandemic, I was little aware of the trauma our students and colleagues experience. This has made me rethink how I approach and interact with both.
Tech – Getting Ready for Fall Semester
As you polish your syllabus and prepare for class, Educational Technology Services (ETS) is here to help you get ready for the fall semester. In addition to a new and improved website, ETS will be hosting sessions in August. In preparation for these sessions, Denison EdTechs interviewed faculty members and are featuring interview clips in our ETS Word of the Week video series.
Teaching – Refining Your Syllabus
With a few weeks before the start of classes, time to put those finishing touches on your syllabi. Want to get some productive feedback on your syllabus before you hand it to students? Join us Monday, August 23 from 2-4 us for Teaching as Intentional Process & Critical Practice: A Syllabus Workshop facilitated by Dr. Michael Reder of Connecticut College.
Tidbit – What do I do while stirring the pot for dinner?
Dr. Julie Mujic, visiting assistant professor in the global commerce program and coordinator for faculty partnerships with the Knowlton Center, has a recent opinion piece for Inside Higher Ed, How academic parents and others can make the best use of brief in-between moments. Julie gives five practical tips on taking advantage of those brief in-between times to stay intellectually active.
Tech – We’ve got an EdTech for that!
In her video this week, Jane Saffitz refers to a creative digital project she did with her class that involved them using a tool called Storyboarder. You may be wondering how Jane was able to support a project like that for her class. Well, she emailed someone at ETS and asked if they could help.
Teaching – What I learned about the Expert Blindspot
One common challenge of expert instructors is understanding the learning needs of novice students, known as the expert blindspot. Between semesters, a group of Denison faculty participated in the Rubik’s Cube Challenge: An Expert Blindspot Learning Adventure with colleagues from Furman University.
Not only did Dr. Jane Saffitz, Anthropology and Sociology, learn how to solve the cube, but the experience provided insight into her students’ learning.