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| For more than a year, the issue of attendance has come up in various conversations in the Center. Students take self-described mental health days or they just don’t show up. Last year, I was on sabbatical from teaching. This year, my fall class was fine, just one chronic attendance issue who was on numerous radar screens. |
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.
Tech: Timely Advising Tip- Use Google Appointment Schedule for Fall Registration Advising
Spring Break is in the past, and registration is upon us. How to manage the many student meetings? Google appointment schedule provides an excellent solution.
Appointment schedule will allow you to:
- create a customized schedule where students can sign up for appointment times and durations set by you;
- send automated reminder emails (one or several) to your advisee the day before, 5 minutes before, and/or any other custom option you choose;
- select how and where to meet; and
- include a note about how you would like students to prepare.
Teaching: Finish the Semester Strong
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| Congratulations! We’ve passed the halfway mark—specifically, we’re at the 8/14 point, counting full weeks of instruction. How do we ensure our students maintain their momentum and finish the semester strong? A helpful page from Georgia State University offers ten insightful tips for students. Among these is the Pomodoro technique. A time management strategy developed in the late 1980s, this approach breaks work into focused intervals, separated by short breaks, enhancing productivity and focus. |
Down the AI Rabbit Hole: Embracing AI- Beyond Fear to Academic Innovation
In this week’s edition of ‘Down the AI Rabbit Hole,’ I share an insightful piece from John Orlando that tackles the pressing issues of plagiarism and AI-induced biases. I also discuss the importance of moving beyond merely trying to catch up with AI to strategically planning for the upcoming technological advancements.
This week’s tip:
This week’s teaching professor features a thought-provoking piece by John Orlando titled “Getting Past AI Fears: Student Success Demands It,” which encourages us to reconsider our stance on plagiarism and bias in the context of AI.
Tidbit: Teaching Information Literacy in an Age of Misinformation
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In the digital age, where misinformation abounds, empowering our students with robust information literacy skills has never been more critical. Dr. Krista Black’s recent article, “Teaching Information Literacy in an Age of Misinformation,” offers a compelling look into the challenges and strategies for integrating these essential skills into our curriculum. From evaluating source credibility to understanding perspectives and leveraging primary data, Dr.
Teaching: Burnout mitigation strategies
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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.
Down the AI Rabbit Hole: The Problem with Free AI and The Power of Words
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.
AI- Today’s Dumbest Genius
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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.” |
Tidbit: Midterm Course Evaluations
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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. |
Tech: Inclusive classes- How do you pronounce your name?
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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. |