Teaching Moments « OSU-Cascades Teaching Excellence

Cheating is Natural

How’s that for a sensationalist title?

This post is spurred on by a trend resulting from remote teaching. Students and faculty that are not familiar with remote teaching can fall into some common issues not seen with face-to-face instruction. Many of these issues are salient in our student’s (lack of) understanding material, and we have taken great pains to facilitate learning on their terms.

Yes, you can make an argument for a change in academic rigor, but being flexible can mean the difference between a graduate and a dropout.

But this isn’t my primary point. Incidence rates of academic misconduct have been on the rise. But before we leap to conclusion about the crumbling moral infrastructure of society, I’d like to point some things out.

Dear Friends,

So much depends upon November. The deepening chill, the afternoon darkness stretching into long nights, the scent of pumpkin spice wafting (over everything, especially if you find yourself in a Trader Joe’s), the sight of rain-flattened, brightly colored leaves on asphalt, the cornucopias and turkeys (or Tofurkies), the promise-threat of family, and the chance to celebrate that uniquely North American holiday—Thanksgiving.

One of the most important takeaways from my experience talking about Thanksgiving in the classroom from a Native Studies perspective is the importance of talking about Thanksgiving. You don’t have to be a humanities instructor to initiate a conversation with your students about this most American of holidays. Even in a math or chemistry classroom, you have to do deal with the scheduling disruptions of Thanksgiving week. Why not also use this as time to reach out engage your students in a conversation about the significance of T-day? And you don’t have to do it without resources.

Continue reading →

Triads – More Than Just a Chinese Organized Crime Syndicate

By Kyle Webb

The Teaching Excellence Committee will again be organizing Teaching Triads this winter term, and we hope that many of you will consider participating. You will receive more information about getting involved later this term. Until then, here is a preview of the Teaching Triads:

What:

Teaching Triads are groups of three faculty (though it could just as well be two or four) who observe each other’s teaching throughout the term, provide each other feedback, and engage in discussions about teaching. The Teaching Triads and PROT processes are similar, but differ in two important ways. Continue reading →

Hello everyone! Let’s talk teaching –

As a young instructor, I started teaching on chalkboards and clear plastic acetates.

Since then, I have:

-Seen new computer graphics programs that can make your paper handouts more interesting

-Developed my own website to give students access to these handouts in digital form at any time

-Ditched my website when Learning Management Systems started

-Became overjoyed with the advent of Powerpoint

-Became disillusioned with Powerpoint

-Enjoyed making and posting videos for my students

-And now we have Zoom. Phew!

As instructors we need to be nimble and adventurous, creative and adaptive, thick skinned when things don’t work out, but mindful enough to pat ourselves on the back when we see the gleam of inspiration and insight in our student’s eyes. Continue reading →

OSU-Cascades Teaching Excellence

Supporting OSU-Cascades Faculty to be Excellent Teachers

Cheating is Natural

Cheating is Natural

How’s that for a sensationalist title?

The Power of Self-Assessment

Benefits for Students

November is the Cruelest Month: The impact of indoctrination

Triads – More Than Just a Chinese Organized Crime Syndicate

Triads – More Than Just a Chinese Organized Crime Syndicate

What:

Mixing Modalities

Hello everyone! Let’s talk teaching –

Contact Info