If you, like so many of us, have said or thought the phrase “I’m just trying to make it until the end of the semester,” it might be a good time to pause your digital devices and/or your notifications to take a moment to yourself “unplugged.” Read this ETS blog post “Press Pause” to learn more about how to use various do not disturb modes on devices, pause your email, and turn off different notifications.
Teaching, Tech, and Tidbits Digest
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.
Teaching – Making the Most of 2,520 Minutes
How much time do you devote to office hours? Three times a week, for 14 weeks, that’s 2,520 minutes a semester! This very short article from the Teaching Profession gives seven concrete ways to interact with students during office hours.
Tidbit – You’re Mid-Career, Now What?: Next Steps of Your Faculty Journey
On Wednesday, November 10 at 12:00 noon, the GLCA’s Consortium for Teaching and Learning (CTL) will present a second webinar in the series by Vicki L. Baker, Professor of Economics and Management at Albion College, entitled, So You’re Mid-Career, Now What?: Next Steps of Your Faculty Journey. This installment focuses on “SWOT Analysis/Goal Setting.”
Teaching – Making the Most of 2,520 Minutes
How much time do you devote to office hours? Three times a week, for 14 weeks, that’s 2,520 minutes a semester! This very short article from the Teaching Profession gives seven concrete ways to interact with students during office hours.
Tidbit – Sharpening Your Think-Pair-Share Game
At a conference in 2011, I saw a speaker use a think-pair-share exercise with a room of more than 200 strangers. Within two minutes, he could barely quiet the room and the following conversation was rich and meaningful. I have used this strategy heavily in my classroom ever since.
Even though I am a firm believer in this discussion method, I am not always the best practitioner.
Tech – Scheduling Advising Appointments
Leaves are falling, the air is crisp, and, once again, it is time for Denison students to register for spring classes. Along with course registration comes opportunities for students to make advising appointments with faculty members. Gone are the days when you had to email students back and forth 20 times to find a perfect time for an advising session.
Use Revise and Resubmit Instead of Extra Credit
It’s that time of year. Students are getting their midterm grades, and you’re faced with that inevitable question, “Can I do some extra credit?” This short article from Faculty Focus argues that extra credit does not treat the issue – a deficiency in understanding. If a tennis player is struggling with their serve, doing extra practice on their backhand will probably not help their serve game.
Tidbit – The Emotional Labor of Teaching
The past 18 months have been challenging. Even with the return to the classroom, there are still many issues and concerns when it comes to our teaching. Ashley Harvey refers to some of these challenges as the emotional labor of teaching. Her article Seven Strategies for Embracing the Emotional Labor of Teaching helps us navigate this.
Teaching – Career – So You’re Mid-Career, Now What?: Next Steps of Your Faculty Journey
Faculty careers are long, characterized by many transitions from achieving tenure and promotion to balancing work and family. The longest stage of the faculty career is the mid-career stage, which includes recently tenured associate professors up to faculty colleagues who are 10 years out from retirement. The purpose of this professional development workshop is to assist mid-career faculty across the GLCA in navigating in and through various transitions and career paths successfully.
Teaching – Midterm Course Evaluations
As we near the half-way mark, consider getting mid-semester feedback from your students. Mid-semester evaluations:
- provide a chance to correct student misconceptions or make changes to the course schedule, activities, etc. if necessary.
- give students an opportunity to reflect on their own expectations, efforts, and learning.
- let students know you care about their input.
Here are some sample mid-semester evaluations you can use or adapt for our course:
- This check-off format from Seattle University makes it easy for your students to provide specific feedback, as well as some open-ended questions.