Author: sagmillk

  • Equitable Group Participation

    Dear Colleagues, Even though it is the end of the quarter and your hearts and minds are on the closure of winter quarter, I thought I would post a support for your spring quarter courses.  We are often asked how to assess group work. Creating equitable work groups is an issue, as you know, of…

  • Six Principles of University Teaching

    Friends of OSU, Last year I created a summary of the literature on cognition research, pedagogical research, professional portfolios, and intellectual coaching to create the Six Principles of University Teaching.   OSU Center for Teaching and Learning has been using this model of teaching excellence for a number of activities for faculty: creating teaching portfolios…

  • Students’ Ratings of Instruction: Fair Usage?

    Despite the preponderance of research documenting the limitations and inappropriate use of students’ ratings instruction as a primary evaluation of teaching quality,  many universities continue to rely heavily, if not solely on eSETS to make professional decisions. Check out this NPR blog to see why this practice is, at the very least inappropriate and as…

  • The 4 Properties of Powerful Teaching

    Article in the Chronicle of Higher Education outlines four broad characteristics of powerful teachers: Personality,Presence, Preparation and Passion. http://m.chronicle.com/article/The-4-Properties-of-Powerful/228483/ Using their article as a launching point, I have added a few tips and tricks below. Powerful teachers have personalities that are, in general, good natured and approachable.  Students are not intimidated by you and all…

  • Institutional Proficiency Levels?

    Dear Colleagues, Vicki Tolar Burton and I recently received an interesting question from a new OSU teacher: What [are the] general expectations at OSU for undergraduate writing competencies, and what resources are there for a student whose skills are less than adequate? CTL Response: Your question is appropriate and pertinent.  At this point, no institutional…

  • Grade distributions: What’s appropriate?

    I recently received an inquiry in the Center for Teaching and Learning asking for advice on the “appropriate grade distribution” for a class.  In fact, there is not an ideal grade distribution. The idea of grades, as opposed to narrative reports, were introduced to schooling early in the industrial revolution as a method of sorting…

  • Is Your Grading Model Fair or a Risk Factor?

    The processes teachers use to calculate grades can be a major risk factor for students… and institutionally, we need to stop and take a look at whether we are using what the research suggests as being fair.  At Oregon State University, The Center for Teaching and Learning take this type of issue very seriously.  Last…

  • Top Three Tips to Promoting Student Success

    As we ready for the new academic year teachers we reviewing our course syllabi and readying for new students. Some classes are large, some are online, others are blended or hybrid courses with some teaching on line and some face-to-face. Regardless of the delivery model, there are still three critical characteristics that directly influence students’…

  • The Rising Cost of Not Going to College

    IF the primary purpose of a college education were for “private good,” then there is good news from the PEW institute. In a recent surveythe PEW foundation found that according to the Millennials, “On virtually every measure of economic well-being and career attainment—from personal earnings to job satisfaction to the share employed full time—young college…

  • First Generation Academics Reflect

    Below you will find an anonymous reflection by a first generation academic: neither of her parents graduated from college with a four year degree and she not only earned her BA, but went on to earn a MEd and finally a PhD.  She is one of many university faculty who are attending the OSU Center…