The posts below are from a bi-weekly digest that encapsulates a range of evidence-based best practices and cutting-edge insights on innovative teaching strategies, effective use of technology, student engagement techniques, and effective assessment, to name a few. The content, diligently curated or crafted by the director Dr. Lew Ludwig, is grounded in robust research and drawn from a wide array of innovative articles, books, and online resources. The goal is to support timely, ongoing faculty development with the most current and impactful knowledge in the field.
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With midterm grades on the horizon and the promise of spring break just around the corner, this is a perfect opportunity to embrace some self-care and introspection. This short, thoughtful piece from the Chronicle offers valuable advice on safeguarding your personal time and space, while also encouraging a mindful approach to your mental well-being. Wishing you a break that is both restful and rejuvenating.
In this week’s edition of ‘Down the AI Rabbit Hole,’ I share an important piece from Marc Watkins that warns us about being lulled into complacency by ChatGPT 3.5 unimpressive writing. I also take on one of my professional development heroes, James Lang, and the importance of nailing the title.
Listen to Down the AI Rabbit Hole (3:55)
This week’s tip:
Marc Watkins is the Director of the Mississippi AI Institute, recognized for their pioneering efforts to incorporate generative AI into college curriculums.
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| Lew Ludwig, Professor of Mathematics and Director of the Center for Learning and Teaching at Denison University presents at the annual TEDx Denison U which took place on February 3rd 2024. Hit “Continue Reading” to see his 9 minute talk titled “AI- Today’s Dumbest Genius.” |
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| Yes, it’s that time of the semester already! Time to get that feedback from students to gently adjust things or reinforce with them why things are done a certain way. You probably already have a form you use. If not, you can find a variety of them in this post from the TTT archive.
Above all, please remember to go over your findings with your students as soon as possible, like the next class. |
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| While you may be able to pronounce student names at this point in the semester, students may not yet know each other’s names. Did you know that students and instructors can record their names in Canvas so that classmates/instructors can hear how to pronounce their name?
Step by step instructions for Canvas student name recordings:
Now you will see “Student Name Recordings” in your course left menu bar. |
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| As we start the sixth week of the semester, we are in the thick of it. You’ve probably already had at least one major grade or are about to, and you are finding which students have figured out how to study and which have not. Our friend Stephen Chew (a cognitive psychologist who visited Denison under Frank Hassebrock) has some excellent resources that will help you help those students. |
In this week’s edition of ‘Down the AI Rabbit Hole,’ I give some recommendations on AI tools that go beyond text generation. I also fantasize about the next steps we should take to help our faculty with generative AI.
Listen to Down the AI Rabbit Hole
This week’s tip:
So much emphasis has been placed on text-based AI generation; yet there are also a lot of non-text AI products that are very useful.
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As the director, I subscribe to a ton of publications, newsletters, and blogs. When I saw this piece, Teach About Climate Change With 30 Graphs From the New York Times, my initial thought was to send this to my colleagues in Environmental Studies. However, reflecting on the universal impact of climate change, I believe it’s crucial for our entire liberal arts institution to consider how we can enhance education on this pervasive issue.
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As we enter week four of the semester, I hope your classes are getting into a rhythm of learning and growth. But how do you know if students understand what we are trying to teach? Classroom assessment activities (CATs) are simple, low-stakes, formative assessments that you can use to ensure your students are “picking up what you are putting down.”
