If You Move Office Hours Online, Will Students Drop In?
What happens in the office hour is the same virtually as it is for students who show up in person: Students ask questions about particular problems or topics, and the professor works through them as if he were in front of the class.…
I Acted Like a Complete Jerk to my Students Just to Prove a Point
I belittled one student by criticizing him in front of others. I favored another student by telling other students they should be more like her. I responded impatiently to questions. I told one student his contribution to class was…
The Responsibility of Adjunct Intellectuals
Academics write for the public more than ever before but are hampered by precariousness of their profession.
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There Is No Such Thing As An Adjunct Professor
The reason I’m sharing this is not because I want sympathy – far from it. I’m sharing this because I know that there are at least 1.3 million professors across the United States working on contingent contracts, many who may well be…
New Research—Stop Thinking Student-Athletes Have Time For Your Class
On average, the players spend more than 25 hours on sports-related activities other than games, such as practice, workouts, general team meetings, film sessions and travel. On the other hand, the player spend less than eight hours on…
Venting About Students on Twitter May Be Re-Wiring Your Brain (and Not in a Good Way)
There are two types of complaints: chronic complaints and venting. According to psychological research, "in one series of studies, researchers tracked people’s moods before and after hearing a complaint. As predicted, listening to gripes…
Why Being a Hard-Ass Prof is Bad for You and Your Students
To be sure, every syllabus includes rules, such as outlining when assignments are due and the consequences of plagiarism. That being said, why do so many faculty members view teaching college as an opportunity to impose and enforce "the…
On Being Educated
Many people, rightly, blame the educational “system” for this unfortunate condition. But some of it is our own choice. Johnson said that the best thing that you can do for a boy is “to teach him how to read.” Once the lad can read, he is…
AAUP Amicus Brief Supports Adjunct Faculty Union Rights in Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit v.…
Most religiously affiliated institutions recognize the need for unencumbered academic freedom for faculty. The statement establishes that in those instances in which a university seeks to impose a religiously based limitation on academic…
Tips for Increasing Student Engagement in Online Courses
Feedback to students about their performance is extremely important in the effort to keep students engaged in the learning journey. Quick responses to discussion posts and email questions can help keep students on track for the next…
