2020 has been a challenging year. Four helpful tips in this Chronicle article to help avoid burnout.
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.
Tech – Help Resolve Student Connectivity Issues
Are your remote students still having connectivity issues? This page on MyDenison has information about internet service providers and instructions for testing connection speed. Students may also find this ETS video Internet Connection Troubleshooting video useful. Refer students outside of the US to this resource: GlobalConnect VPN page on MyDenison. Other useful tips can be found here: Tip 5: Help remote students who have internet connectivity issues.
Teaching – Helping Students Get Through the Semester
Just a few more weeks – the end of the semester is in sight. You’re feeling it and so are your students. This Chronicle piece gives some practical advice on helping students finish the semester.
Tidbit – Reading the Zoom Room With Zoom Polls
Many of us are used to “reading our classroom” – getting a pulse of where our learning community is. We quickly track our students’ understanding of an idea or topic by their body language and facial expressions, or questions asked.This semester, with masked students in the hybrid setting and remote students a small image on our screen, we cannot get a clear sense of our students’ comprehension.
Tech – Edtech Tips to Improve the Remote Student Experience
Last week we shared the results from the remote student technology survey that was conducted by ETS. This week, ETS has several tips to help improve student experiences. Check out this playlist “EdTech Tips to Improve the Remote Student Experience,” which has videos to address each of the main findings from the survey. Take a look at this post with resources and video references corresponding to the survey findings.
Teaching – connecting remote and in-class students
The hybrid classroom presents of number of challenges. A common concern is getting remote students and in-class students to interact during class discussion. Jonathan Maskit, Philosophy, has found a clever way to use his iPhone, laptop, and classroom computer to make sure his remote and online students can clearly see and hear each other during class discussions.
Tidbit – Halfway there – time to consider a course correction?
We’ve made it past the halfway mark! As we reflect on the first half of the semester, now is a good time to pull out the syllabus to check what is working and what might need tweaking. This article from The Chronicle shows how the mid semester course correction is a useful and productive exercise.
Tech – Get the latest Zoom updates
Have you checked out some of the latest updates in Zoom?
- Custom gallery organization – move student screens around
- Multi-spotlighting – pin up to nine different participants
- Selecting breakout rooms – give students some choice, allow them to select the breakout room to join
Read this post by Denison’s ETS team for more information on Zoom’s updates.
Teaching – advice for and from our remote students
Last week, in conjunction with the Remote Student Advisory Board and the Provost Office, ETS conducted a survey of remote students and the issues they are experiencing:
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- hearing the class
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- seeing the whiteboard
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- internet connection
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- lack of connection to campus
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- being remote in a hybrid class
Take a look at the complete findings and suggested solutions for how to meet these challenges.
Tidbit – send us those tips
As we begin the second half of the semester, I am amazed at the many useful pieces of advice I’ve received from faculty:
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- using your iPhone as a lapel mic
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- how YouTube will automatically divide your videos into chapters if you give time intervals in description
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- having students sign into chat to take attendance, etc.
Have some tips of you own that you would like to share?