by Madara Mason | Apr 9, 2019
Though I’ve long practiced the technique of Object-Based Teaching (OBT) in face-to-face and online classrooms alike, I’d never really looked into the scholarship behind it until recently. I’d also not really considered the pedagogical principles behind it, nor whether my pedagogy needed any scrutiny and modification. It turns out that there were some aspects of my practice I needed to modify.
by Madara Mason | Dec 16, 2018
I can’t say that I’ve mastered the art of a balanced life, but I do have some tips for those new to teaching. These are some hard-won lessons I’ve gathered over the last two decades teaching at UAF.
by Madara Mason | Apr 24, 2018
In this interview with Gordon Williams, we found out how he developed Calculus III (MATH F253X) for online students and why video became an important tool.
Q: What was important to have ready before the class started?
It would have been nice to have everything ready, but I had to settle with just having two weeks worked out in advance given the time constraints.
Q: Explain some of the pedagogical decisions you’ve made while building a course as it’s running.
A lot of the techniques I’m using in the course came from the suggestions and practices of my colleagues. For example, using worksheets in combination with (preferably brief) lecture videos using the same template, having students complete those worksheets by following along on the video, and having students submit them weekly is a reasonably handy way of ensuring students view and follow the content of the videos.
by Madara Mason | Mar 8, 2018
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by Madara Mason | Mar 7, 2018
Writing is a Process Learning to write well takes years. Accept the fact that students in your classroom are at wildly varying places along the path to being a good writer. Rather than teaching them to master grammar and spelling, your goal should be to help your...
by Madara Mason | Feb 20, 2018
Teaching Data Visualization Resources Questions for Discussion Why is data visualization important in your field? What tools do you use to generate images? What do your data visualization assignments look like right now? What tools are available to your students? How...
by Madara Mason | Dec 16, 2017
EPIC: Home Activities Discussion Case Studies Resources How do you engage with your online students? How do your students engage with one another? Online discussions afford many opportunities for student engagement and rich learning outcomes. However, creating and...
by Madara Mason | Aug 25, 2017
Art and science collide in ‘Microbial Worlds’
BY JOSH HARTMAN · FEBRUARY 12, 2017
UAF Sunstar
“Microbial Worlds,” an art exhibit with a scientific twist, sought to teach visitors about microbiology.
by Madara Mason | May 26, 2017
You probably use hundreds, if not thousands, of gestures, keyboard commands and icons every day to navigate the web, perform various actions on a device and interact with others. Doing this in a skilled way is called interface literacy, and it’s an emerging literacy that faculty not only have to acquire themselves, but also must impart to their students.
by Madara Mason | May 10, 2017
**Make Your Next Field Trip Virtually Good by Dan LaSota (Teaching Tip) A Field Trip Activity Instructions: Ultimately you will create a “thing” and share it by completing the following steps: Choose an interaction with meat-space mediated...
by Madara Mason | Apr 17, 2017
In Practice A syllabus is no good if no one’s reading it. Being specific, succinct, and organized are the first steps to readability, but design matters too. Check out the examples below for creatively designed and organized syllabi: Northern Lit Syllabus, UAF with...
by Madara Mason | Apr 3, 2017
Wednesday, April 5th, 12-1pm Join Dan LaSota and Sean Holland for this week’s Virtual iTeach+: Assessment at its best can educate, while letting instructors and students know the level of acquired mastery. At its worst, it interrupts learning flow and wastes...
by Madara Mason | Apr 3, 2017
UAF eCampus has purchased a UA group registration for the TCC Online Conference on Teaching and Learning, one of the longest running and consistently interesting online education and technology conferences. All UA Faculty, Staff and Students can use the invitation...
by Madara Mason | Mar 21, 2017
Resources Measurable Learning Objectives (iTeachU) The Effective Syllabus (iTeachU) Outcomes Evidence (iTeachU) Calendars and Schedules (iTeachU) eCampus Syllabus Template in Google Docs Central Florida’s Objective Builder...
by Madara Mason | Mar 3, 2017
Are you working on a new course, an assignment, or a teaching idea and need a place to start? Start at iTeachU, UAF eCampus’s online headquarters for all your questions about course design. Learn on your own with our Pedagogy Resources, featuring tips and deep dives on course design, technology concepts, examples, links, and more.
by Madara Mason | Feb 29, 2016
Like many of you, I still use a mix of analog and digital tools in my teaching practice. I use an old fashioned notebook and pen to keep up with ideas and to-do’s. Things like note taking, providing feedback on papers, and screencasting have all been awkward for me until now. The iPad Pro is broadening my options for practices that involve handwriting or drawing.
by Madara Mason | Dec 2, 2014
My life is complicated and technology sometimes complicates it rather than simplifying it. However, I can use automation to turn a frustrating series of tasks into a single task by using a tool called If This Then That.
by Madara Mason | Oct 14, 2014
Download Teaching Tip for Fall 2014!
by Madara Mason | Sep 8, 2014
How many times do you find yourself answering questions whose answers are outlined clearly in your syllabus? Probably more than you’d like. So how do you get students to read the darn syllabus?
by Madara Mason | Mar 14, 2014
A note from eCampus: We encourage all of our CITE Fellows to engage in reflective writing occasionally, and we ask that they are brave enough to share that reflection with other faculty. Innovation can be challenging in many ways, but more than anything the mapless...
by Madara Mason | Feb 19, 2014
Last Fall, during our inaugural launch of the CITE Fellows program, our Instructional Design Team was faced with a difficult challenge: how can we pair CITE faculty with Designers to work on innovative projects that have never been seen before? We came up with a few...
by Madara Mason | Feb 18, 2013
It can be distracting for students and faculty alike when mobile devices are used in the classroom. Asking students to use them for guided educational purposes can turn an otherwise rude distraction into an effective disruption of routine learning experiences. Read this week’s teaching tips for Using cell phones for good, instead of evil!
