47 Matching Annotations
  1. Jan 2020
    1. the true power of open comes not from a resource being free of cost but rather from the freedoms to reuse, retain, redistribute, revise, and remix content

      The 5 R's beg the question of what we use educational texts for in the first place. This might seem like an obvious and silly question, but if we step back and consider what deep learning looks like, the texts we choose to engage with should support that picture. Many times we assume that a text is necessary, or faculty might feel supported by having a text to structure their course, but this may actually get in the way of the creative avenues they might take with their students to reach their learning goals.

    2. Funded by groups as diverse as universities, governments, philanthropic organizations, and professional societies

      I'm curious about what the impact is of having such a diverse funding model. Could there be benefits?

    3. students lease digital-only access to their required textbooks

      This model is problematic for many reasons beyond just the cost. If we really want students to see their learning as lifelong, relevant, and iterative, then why would we require texts that they'll have limited access to? This is telling them that the information is only important for this class, not out in the "real" world.

  2. Aug 2019
    1. Research is often conducted in isolation, promotion and tenure policies may de-emphasize teaching and service work in favor of research, and faculty and staff divides edure.

      Even though there's research that supports the idea that teaching strengthens research and vice versa, the academy continues to ignore the importance of focusing on teaching.

  3. Jan 2019
    1. Teaching classes

      This article gives several good tips to teaching for the first time, but each teacher will need to find their own teaching persona, and through trial and error they will learn what works best for them.

    1. Finding your teaching groove after a long stint away from the classroom.

      Advice for how to reenter the classroom after a long absence.

    1. grading final papers

      Grading final papers isn't the best time to provide a lot of qualitative feedback because student's aren't likely to read or use it. Formative feedback should be given early in the term.

    1. check in with your students; extend availabilities to meet; offer feedback, and follow up

      These four actions can do a lot to make students feel seen and connected.

    1. Thoughts on bringing current events into your classroom.

      A conversation between a PhD student and a professor of African American studies about how to discuss current events in difficult times.

    1. creating a “humanities lab”,

      I like this idea of creating a lab for problem-based learning in humanities classes. What other STEM-related practices could humanities borrow?

    1. assignment sheets

      Student success starts with clear expectations and a clear assignment sheet is part of that.

    1. But these tools require we think about their purpose, method, and audience just as carefully as when we design an essay prompt, a problem set, or any other assessment exercise.

      This is an example of when meta-teaching is helpful.

    1. Our discussion made the classroom feel like it was not the professor’s class to run alone, but ours as well.

      What a great example of setting the tone on the first day of class!

    1. Inevitably, what I find reaffirms aspects of writing pedagogy I’m familiar with while giving me fresh ways to express it to the new audiences with whom I’m working.

      Teaching writing in STEM disciplines is beneficial for the students and the teacher.

    1. On bringing lessons from dissertation writing into your classroom.

      What one PhD student learned about teaching from writing his dissertation.

    1. failing to recognize that my own identity was blinding me to opportunities that would allow my students’ identities to take center stage

      What are some ways I can help grad students at PSU see their blind spots?

    1. For graduate teaching assistants, this is the time when we introduce ourselves, lay out our expectations, and, hopefully, establish the tone and level of authority that we want to convey throughout the term.

      Good advice for the first day back to school for anyone looking for new ideas.

    1. More forcefully than in any other single class, I realized the importance of universal design for learning (UDL). This curricular design features privilege multiple access points for learning, engagement, and assessment. As Dr. Jennifer Stone puts it, “designing on the front end” with UDL minimizes the need for individual learners to make a special request.

      The incorporation of UDL practices is important for all students.

    1. semester-long, graded course on pedagogy through my university’s Learning Assistant Program.

      I would like to see the NYU course syllabus to see what pedagogy-related topics they cover.

    1. Regardless of your discipline, there’s a good chance that at some point you will be responsible for teaching or grading writing in some shape or form.

      This is an important point that a lot of people in fields outside of the liberal arts don't realize. Writing happens in all disciplines.

    1. But this one didn’t just argue that how I dress influences student perceptions, it argued that it directly affects my ratings, and more importantly, my students’ behavior in class and the quality of their learning.

      What's the best way to tell GTAs this?

    1. Graduate teaching assistant salaries also are reported in the aggregate. Across institution types, they made $11,205 this year, on average. Those at doctoral institutions made more, at $14,345 (the salaries were roughly the same at both public and private universities). Graduate teaching assistants at master’s-level institutions made about $9,000 and those at baccalaureate institutions made about $7,042.

      GTA salaries don't keep up with cost of living.

    1. Graduate teaching assistants have voted to unionize, in locals affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, at Central Michigan University a

      Central Michigan State and Florida State University unionize at the same time.

    1. "We interpret this result as evidence of 'teaching to the exam,'" the authors write, "where TAs divulge information that is pertinent to the class’ exams if given the opportunity. Students who are more likely to interact with the TAs by attending the TAs’ discussion sections and office hours are the beneficiaries of teaching to the test."

      What are the other implications of this research? Is the recommendation that TAs should be paired with classes that most closely match their ethnicity?

    1. graduate teaching assistants making up almost another 13 percent

      Graduate teaching assistants are filling nearly 15% of all teaching positions in higher ed. What are the consequences for undergrads?

    1. In 2000, when the NLRB ruled that graduate teaching assistants are eligible for collective bargaining and can be considered employees, New York University became the first private university to recognize a graduate student union.

      The history of GTA unionization.

    1. one of the most pervasive topics of concern and frustration that I address in my workshops with faculty members and graduate teaching assistants is classroom incivility

      GTAs at Portland State often ask for more training around conflict resolution and difficult conversations.

    1. Graduate student workers' newly won right to unionize at private universities is a ding on those institutions' credit, Moody's Investors Service said Thursday.

      What are some of the other side effects of unionization, both positive and negative?

    1. instructor presence

      What are some ways you can create a sense of instructor presence in an online course, besides those mentioned in this article?

    2. More and more, employers are offering professional development courses online, he noted. “Learning online is different from face-to-face, and [graduates] won’t have any experience. If the college wants students to be lifelong learners, give them the opportunity to” take virtual courses."

      This paragraph mentions that employers are offering more training online, so having online course experience will benefit students once they enter the job market, What are some other potential benefits of students learning online?

  4. Nov 2017
    1. This means developing a flexible learning environment in which information is presented in multiple ways, students engage in learning in a variety of ways, and students are provided options when demonstrating their learning.

      These are also best practices in teaching and learning, which says something about human cognition and motivation generally and how we think about people who need "accommodations." In other words, maybe we all need "accommodations" that serve our need for autonomy, mastery, and purpose.