blog posts

• How to Teach What You Don't Actually Know

  Jun 7, 2011 8:00 am

  How to Teach What You Don't Actually Know.  Are you preparing to teach a course that's outside your area of expertise? Therese Huston, plenary speaker at last year's Annual Faculty Retreat, can help you face next semester with confidence.  Read the Chronicle article here.

• The Final Class Sessions: Providing Closure

  May 2, 2011 8:00 am

  The Final Class Sessions: Providing Closure. The end of the semester can be stressful for instructors as well as students.  Use these tips from the University of Minnesota to ensure that you end your course gracefully. Click here to read the strategies.

• Test Construction: Some Practical Ideas

  May 2, 2011 8:00 am

  Test Construction: Some Practical Ideas.  Majority of our courses include some kind of final exam.  This guide from the University of Texas at Austin presents a very thorough method for constructing tests that accurately assess students' learning.  Here is the guide.

• Back to Basics: PowerPoint Skills

  Apr 15, 2011 8:00 am

  Back to Basics: PowerPoint Skills. Creating presentations with PowerPoint is easy; creating effective instruction with PowerPoint is not.  This page from the University of Vermont collects both familiar and unique advice for avoiding "death by PowerPoint."

• Discussing Grades with Students

  Apr 15, 2011 8:00 am

  Discussing Grades with Students. As the end of the semester approaches, students are likely to become more concerned about their grades.  Knowing how to respond to student complaints about grades can turn a potential argument into a productive discussion.  This page from Washington University in St. Louis offers some advice to follow.

• Awake, Accountable, and Engaged

  Mar 23, 2011 8:00 am

  Awake, Accountable, and Engaged. As the semester winds down, your students may begin to lose focus.  This posting from Tomorrow's Professor offers two easy techniques to keep them engaged in lectures. Click here to learn more.

• Role-Play: An Often Misused Active Learning Strategy

  Mar 23, 2011 8:00 am

  Role-Play: An Often Misused Active Learning Strategy. Role-playing can enliven discussions and give students the opportunity to explore different sides of an issue.  The paper, from the POD Network Teaching Excellence Essay Series, contains an overview of role-playing and a role-playing technique you can use at any point in the semester.   Here is the link.

• Teaching Time Management Strategies

  Mar 3, 2011 8:00 am

  Teaching Time Management Strategies. At this point in the semester, your students may begin to feel overwhelmed by the demands of their classes.  Set them up for success in your class by developing their time management abilities. Here are ideas for you to consider.

• The Importance of Early Feedback

  Mar 3, 2011 8:00 am

  The Importance of Early Feedback.  Student feedback needn't be collected only through ICES.  If you haven't collected feedback about how your class is doing, then read this article to understand how feedback is a valuable part of any semester, and the particular importance of early feedback. Click here to learn more about early feedback and directions and sample forms.

• Research-Based Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity

  Jan 18, 2011 8:00 am

  Research-Based Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity. You can lessen the number of academic integrity violations you'll face by presenting your students with a clear policy at the beginning of the semester.  This essay, part of the POD Network Teaching Excellence Essay Series, describes what such a policy should contain, how it should fit into your course, and how to present it to your students. Click here to learn how.