What’s your favorite active learning strategy – think-pair-share, small group discussions, entry/exit tickets? This chart (Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner, LSU,) outlines some common active learning strategies and corresponding approaches appropriate for a physical distanced classrooms or synchronous/asynchronous remote teaching.
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 – how to use the Google calendar appointment feature by ETS
Holding remote office hours this semester? Use the Appointment feature in Google Calendar to create sign-up times for students. This is an efficient way to schedule your office hour meetings. Here is an ETS how-to video as well as detailed instructions.
Tidbit – concise checklist for meeting students virtually by Dr. Torrey Trust, Amhert
Meeting with students virtually this semester? This concise checklist (Dr. Torrey Trust, Amhert) provides tips to assess students attention in virtual class meetings.
Tech – Creating a “talking head” video (screencast)
How do I create a “talking head” video for my class? This short video will show you how to create your own screencast using the free platform Loom. To see an example Loom cast AND learn how to make a course overview video for your students, watch this how-to video from ETS. This is a great way to introduce your students to the course and lessen unforeseen disruptions.
Teaching – First day of class – in-person or remotely
kadjfdksjfdsajfkjdsf adsfjdsfjdsjfdjfdasjkf
Teaching – Your Questions around Hybrid Teaching Answered
Tech – Embedding questions in video micro-lecture
Now that you’ve made all those micro-lecture videos, how do you know your students will use them? ETS has found these easy-to-use apps that allow you to create questions to accompany your videos. These apps help make sure your students are actively engaging in the course material.
08/11/2020 Teaching-hybrid teaching checklist from The Chronicle
08/11/2020 Tech-how to create questions to accompany videos-easy to use apps from ETS
questions with videos, ETS, student engagement
08/11/2020 Tidbit-Zoom teaching four-step plan and how to teach a good first day of class from the Chronicle
This semester I am teaching remotely. I will closely follow this Four-Step Plan: The First Day of Class on Zoom.
First meeting in person? Checkout the four principles in this Chronicle piece on How to Teach a Good First Day of Class.