Search Results for active learning

Implementing Trauma-Informed Pedagogy

Trauma is an “event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and…wellbeing (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2024). Communities, as well as individuals, can Continue Reading >>

Setting Shared Expectations

GSIs can begin to build inclusive classrooms by letting students know what they can expect of the GSI and the learning community they are co-creating. We encourage you to set shared expectations by Making a Statement about Your Commitment to Inclusion, Establishing Community Agreements, and Specifying How Students Can Raise Continue Reading >>

Enhancing Student Engagement through a Simulated Academic Conference

By Karen Villegas, Education Teaching Effectiveness Award Essay, 2024 As an undergraduate student, I remember dreading group work and public presentations. As a doctoral candidate, I came to value the experience of collaborating on research projects and presenting our findings at academic conferences. There was something special about genuine collaboration, Continue Reading >>

Enlarging and Improving Feedback on Student Papers

By Thomas Lee, Political Science Teaching Effectiveness Award Essay, 2024 Many students in my political theory courses every semester would come to my office hours distressed about how they should go about writing their political theory papers. While the wide-ranging possibilities of political theorizing reflected in the paper questions were Continue Reading >>

Plot the Semester and Gather Resources

Plot the Semester Once you have developed the sequence of course’s instructional units and a sense of the major assignments and learning activities of your course, you can begin plotting these into a semester schedule. This is where instructors can often struggle, as it can feel as if there are Continue Reading >>

“Yes, and…” in Grant Writing

By Nancy Freitas, Energy and Resources Group Teaching Effectiveness Award Essay, 2023 Figuring out how to fund your research and education as a graduate student is a daunting task. Most of us know that writing for grants and fellowships can help defray these costs, but learning how to navigate applications, Continue Reading >>

Student-led Discussions Foster Compassion

By Anna Tomi, Scandinavian Teaching Effectiveness Award Essay, 2022 When teaching Reading and Composition, I often encounter a wonderful group of students enthusiastic to display their knowledge and engage with the instructor. But when it’s time for the students to talk to each other, they withdraw into silence. This is Continue Reading >>

There’s No Shame in Asking Questions

By Dhruva Karkada, Physics Teaching Effectiveness Award Essay, 2022 Physics students often struggle to voice their confusion when presented with challenging material. In my experience, both as a student and as an instructor, this hesitation is often deeply rooted in a sense of shame: asking questions, especially in front of Continue Reading >>