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The Mentor Is In
Coaxing the Lion out of its Lair Or, the Challenges and Rewards of Teaching Writing to STEM Students
by Kris Morrissey
Teaching an English Literature class five years ago, the lights went out for no apparent reason. We sat looking at each other, considering the inherent symbolism of light – be it ambient or fluorescent. Then, when…
Learning Your Students’ Names Really Does Matter
by Carole R. Beal
The new academic year is here, and thousands of students have entered college for the first time.
I’ve been teaching college students for a long time, but this year, two developments have led me to think hard about…
How to Use Cumulative Testing to Enhance Learning Outcomes
by Kevin Patton
One of the most effective enhancements I've ever made to my human anatomy & physiology course was switching to cumulative testing. What I mean by that is instead of testing on each topic once, then moving on to a test…
Do This, and Your Students Will Never Miss Class Again
by Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins
Senior Digital Educator, Cengage Learning
Growing up, you heard the lectures from your parents. And then you went to school and heard even more lectures. And once you arrived in college, you were just about…
From Koala to Kangaroo—Getting Your Students Hopping With Active Learning
by Shawn Orr, Digital Educator You’ve probably seen this chart or another many times over the course of your teaching. Basically, it’s saying that we remember very little of what somebody talks to us about. We remember more if we can see…
Great Apps to Create Meaningful Connections Inside (and Outside) the Classroom
by Shawn Orr I love technology! I guess if I’m being completely honest, what I really love is the engagement, excitement, and interactivity that technology brings to my college classroom. I’m not talking about the bells and whistles…
The Mentor Is In: Teaching and Supporting Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
by Steven Volk Planning a route, getting gas and changing a flat tire don’t sound challenging to most young adults, but for students on the autism spectrum at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL, it was one of the greatest tests…
Tips for Designing and Using Rubrics
by Andrew Miller Rubrics are a beast. Grrrrrrr! They are time-consuming to construct, challenging to write and sometimes hard to use effectively. They are everywhere. There are rubrics all over the web, plus tools to create them, and as…
When Students Don't Answer—Interpreting the Awkward Silence
by Paul T. Corrigan
One balmy spring afternoon, I asked my students, “What is the difference between being a student and being a learner?” I hoped to start a lively discussion about the purposes of college. Instead, one or two students…
When Students Don’t Answer—Interpreting the Awkward Silence
by Paul T. Corrigan
One balmy spring afternoon, I asked my students, “What is the difference between being a student and being a learner?” I hoped to start a lively discussion about the purposes of college. Instead, one or two students…