Category: Center for Teaching and Learning
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Reassessing Assessment in Covid-19 Crisis: The Importance of Discursive and Performative Reflection
The Covid-19-forced pivot to remote teaching has upended productive discourse about evidence-based pedagogical practices. The recurring theme in the myriad of recommendations and best practices for engaging students in remote learning is the need to communicate care and hope, and to maintain a sense of connectedness. The pandemic is a great equalizer; the resultant uncertainties,…
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Addressing Burnout
In the past few weeks, I have heard from instructors and learners alike about how stressed they are. People are finding themselves more irritable, apathetic, experiencing insomnia, headaches, or inability to focus. I can say that I am also experiencing similar symptoms that have been exaggerated by remote learning and teaching. Acknowledging this problem and…
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RAP ON: Live Streamed or Face to Face? Comparing Efficacy
Editor’s Note: Universities nationwide are preparing for the summer and fall terms. After a quick pivot to emergency remote teaching this spring, there is now a small window of time to prepare for the next phase of education during the pandemic. One of the most common models on the drafting table involves “Rotating Classes”. According…
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Reducing Screen Time Through Podcasting
Who else is suffering from eye strain, migraines, a sore neck or back? I can’t imagine I’m the only one. I used to complain about how much time I spent staring at a computer screen. Looking back, past me had no idea how bad it could get. Between my work for the CTL, the Zoom…
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THANK YOU EDUCATORS: National Teacher Appreciation Day!!!
We interrupt our regularly programmed activities, zoom and otherwise, to bring you THIS important message: THANK YOU FACULTY AND STAFF FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AS YOU KEEP TEACHING and help our students KEEP LEARNING!!!! As we stride towards the summer and into the latter half of Spring term 2020, there is a lot to celebrate.…
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Informal Videos: One Approach to Humanizing ERT
In a recent CTL blog post, authored by Kelby Hahn, she discussed ways to invite social connection in Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) using videos. She also shared many great 20 Minute Mentor videos that provide support in the creation and dissemination of them. Many of the ideas shared are also relevant to the work I’ve…
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Handling Triple Duty: Parenting, Working, and Teaching in the Era of Coronavirus
Many parents are feeling overwhelmed over the triple duty of being a parent, working remotely, and teaching their children at home during the Coronavirus shut-in. In an episode of NPR: All Things Considered a mother explained that the first 4 weeks seemed bearable taken day-by-day with a strict schedule of work and academics in the morning…
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Pandemic Teaching Is Challenging and Difficult But Still Merits Reflection
I am not the same teacher I was six weeks ago. Oh, I still care very much about my students. It is still very important to me that they are learning, that I help bring the content to life and make the material engaging and applicable. I want them to feel connected to me, their…
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Getting Close While Teaching Remotely: Instructor Presence
I keep hearing the phrase physical distancing, social closeness touted as an alternative to the typical social distancing. I’ve definitely taken that to heart in my personal life, scheduling virtual hang outs and using an array of technology to keep me connected to friends and family. Despite this awareness of the importance of social closeness…
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Bringing out Students’ Best Assets in Remote Teaching: Questioning Reconsidered
To say that these are unprecedented times in higher education is becoming an understatement. Across the country, traditional face-to-face classes are now in remote delivery. University teachers are working assiduously to approximate as much as possible the best practices of traditional classroom teaching format in the digital platform. This unique transition presents the opportunity to…