Tidbit: 5 Strategies to Create Inclusive Learning Environments for International Students

Teaching mathematics, I’m used to having a fair number of international students in my classes. But this semester, something shifted—over 80% of my students are from Southeast Asia. That change has nudged me to rethink my teaching style in more deliberate ways. I’ve started grouping students into fours more consistently and have become much more intentional about my cadence and diction.

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Tidbit: Still waiting for the right moment to try AI? This is it.

 

If you’ve been watching the AI conversation unfold from the sidelines—maybe feeling unsure where to begin or wondering if it’s already too late—I’ve got good news: it’s not.

Join me Wednesday, April 16 at noon ET for a remote hands-on Workinar designed for educators who are ready to try out generative AI but don’t want the hype or the overwhelm.

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Tidbit: Adopt or Resist? Beyond the AI Culture Wars

I was talking with Matt Kretchmar after our recent session with Leon Furze on “Understanding GenAI in Education: AI and Assessment.” He was very excited about Leon’s approach to move beyond merely moralizing about students cheating and focusing on how to productively live with this new reality. In particular, Leon emphasized a shift in perspective:

In Validity matters more than cheating the authors argue convincingly that the concept of cheating is an unproductive frame for academic integrity, and we should instead re-centre the concept of “validity” in assessment.

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Tidbit: Break the Routine with Five-Minute Starts to Reenergize Your Classroom

Now that the initial energy of the new semester has waned and we’ve reached week six, have you noticed your class settling into a predictable routine? While routines have their place, too much predictability can lead to autopilot mode—for both you and your students. It might be time to refocus and inject some fresh energy into your classroom.

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Tidbit: Advice for a New Instructor (and the rest of us)

I really like this piece from the Chronicle: Advice for a New Instructor. Whether you can count your semesters at Denison on one hand or need all your hands, feet, and some appendages, this piece offers practical strategies from seasoned educators to help you support your students, foster meaningful learning, and navigate the complexities of modern classrooms.

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Tidbit: Cultivating Growth Through Discomfort- Balancing Compassion and Challenge in Polarized Times

In the wake of a contentious election, our classrooms might reflect the polarized dynamics of our society. Should we retreat to avoid offending or creating tension? Instead our friend Mays Imad suggests adopting a pedagogy of discomfort, as she describes in her piece “Teaching and Learning through Discomfort.” This approach offers a framework for addressing classroom tensions by encouraging vulnerability, critical reflection, and engagement with opposing viewpoints.

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Tidbit: Getting ready for course evaluations

Whenever colleagues invite me to observe their classes for formative feedback, I always ask them to share two or three specific aspects they’re working on and would appreciate input on. For instance, they may want to engage more students in discussion, effectively wrap up with a summary in the last five minutes, or improve how they organize board work.

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