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| We’re at that critical midpoint, and it’s all too easy to coast (or crash) until finals. But midterm is our golden chance to step back and see if we’re still on the path we laid out at the start. A few small tweaks now can save us—and our students—a heap of stress when crunch time rolls around. |
Tidbit – TTT
Something that may be of interest
Tidbit: Adopt or Resist? Beyond the AI Culture Wars
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| 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. |
Tidbit: Break the Routine with Five-Minute Starts to Reenergize Your Classroom
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| 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. |
Tidbit: The Power of No
One of the more memorable, if improbable, scenes from Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” is when Legolas is battling his archenemy Bolg on a fallen tower that begins to crumble underneath him. In his own physics-defying, elfish way, he starts running up the blocks as they fall to the chasm below.
Tidbit: Advice for a New Instructor (and the rest of us)
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| 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. |
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.
Tidbit: Getting ready for course evaluations
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| 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. |
Tidbit: Election Day
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| I am doubtful we will have a clear decision by tomorrow. Nevertheless, as I’ve shared before, and as we discussed in our recent Teaching Matters session, it is good to have a game plan, no matter your discipline.
For a quick take, consider this resource from the CRLT at the University of Michigan: Navigating the Post-Election Period With Your Students. If |
Tidbit: Finding Your Fireflies
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| I am not one for poetry. I am not saying this as a judgment, more as a fact. I’ve had very little exposure to poetry, probably to my detriment. So, you may find it odd that I am sharing a poem this week. It came to me via Bonni Stachowiak’s Teaching in Higher Ed podcast with John Warner. |
Tidbit: What about us?
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| Okay, so we’ve explored the student mental health crisis in the teaching section, but what can we do for ourselves to do more than just survive another semester? In “When Disruption Is Perpetual, It’s Time to Think Differently About Work,” Beth McMurtrie highlights strategies for professors to thrive, such as setting boundaries based on scope-of-practice framework and finding community support through learning groups. |