Category Archives: Students

Wikipedia Correction as Class Project

A significant body of research shows that students are more motivated, and do a better job researching and writing, if they do it for an “authentic audience.” As Derek Bruff, the  Director of Vanderbilt Center for Teaching explains: Sharing student … Continue reading

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It’s Not Just the Students Who Multitask

I started reading the Chronicle piece entitled “You’re Distracted.  This Professor Can Help” feeling very smug and superior.  Those foolish students — why do they not realize that their constant response to electronic devices is counterproductive (and it is).  Checking … Continue reading

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Why the University is Still Relevant in the Age of Wikipedia

Last Friday’s excellent symposium, “Higher-Ed in the Crosshairs,” examined some of the most relevant issues facing our community.  What is the value of a university education?  How does the university confront changes in technology and the demands of an evolving … Continue reading

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The Flipped Classroom

Dear [Chairman]: As I hope you are aware, this semester, Professor Stokes has decided to try the “flipped-classroom model.” This involves the students practically teaching all the class material to themselves through the text reading, online “You-Tube” videos, etc. This … Continue reading

Posted in Flipped Classroom, Students, Teaching Methods | 6 Comments

Higher Ed Faculty: Teachers, Mentors, Advisors, Parents, or Friends?

A recent inquiry by one of my colleagues regarding faculty members’ student attendance policies in class has prompted me to revisit a handful of related questions that I am often asking myself and others: What is the scope of my … Continue reading

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Evidence-based Study Skills

How many times have students come to your office and asked your advice about how to study? Perhaps the student was a struggling first year or did poorly on the last test.  What do you tell them? My standard response … Continue reading

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What’s my value as a teacher?

As faculty at an institution of higher education, and private, expensive institution at that, I often discuss the future of education.  In situations that I’m sure many of you have experienced, family and friends often ask me why college is … Continue reading

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Better Research Assignments

While planning our spring semester courses, many of us may be looking for new ways to teach students both content knowledge and research skills. Get a good start with the resources on CTE’s Designing Research Assignments page.  In addition, personal help is … Continue reading

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Helpful or Just Creepy?

My students have reading assignments for every class, and the quality of class discussion depends very much on whether they have read (and even thought about) those pages.  Sometimes, especially at this busy time of year, I suspect that not … Continue reading

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A Sense of Wonder

Today I’m attending the annual conference of the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education, and I heard a keynote address by Michael Wesch, who teaches cultural anthropology at Kansas State. He gave one of those wildly popular TED … Continue reading

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