Free graphics
There are at least two great ways to search for images you can use in your course materials (or homework):
-Google Images search
-Website repositories of graphics labeled for commercial or non-commercial reuse
Verbal feedback?
If your students are using Google Docs for any portion of their assignments, you can teach them how to provide peer feedback verbally using the Google Docs Add-on Kaizena Mini. You can also use this product yourself to guide your student through changes you would like to see in their written work.
The care and feeding of progress
I’d advise everyone who uses Blackboard’s Grade Center to embed this tip—or a link to this WordPress post supporting it—in your “Getting Started” folder. It’s perfect for the student to understand how to see your feedback.
Joanne Healy’s Grant Submission Adventure
Joanne Healy, while pursuing her CITE project goals, wrote two grant submissions in the last two months. She notes, “It’s important for new teachers to shift their pedagogy to a more collaborative approach based on continuous improvement of learning with 21st-century mobile devices.” Her proposal work parallels and supports recent SOE initiatives. While Joanne hopes […]
Data tracking
How do you know they are listening? You put an incredible amount of effort into your online or flipped course. If you’re curious to see how often—or, how long—people are listening, reports and data help. Blackboard, SoundCloud, and YouTube track user views.
Service learning
Use service learning in your course to help students gain perspective. As an instructor, you strive to encourage students to learn, strengthen their understanding by adding depth to their knowledge, and give them real world experience through service learning. Service learning is another facet of active learning. Ask students to apply what you teach.
Promote your course
Is your department counting on you to bring new students into the discipline? Are your class sizes smaller than you’d like? Often times being listed on the course schedule isn’t enough. Here are some ideas to increase enrollment and visibility of your class.
Socrative
Using a student response system helps us gauge how well students are grasping the concepts being discussed in class. “Clickers” revolutionized this by providing real-time feedback, but unfortunately require students to purchase and register a device ahead of time. Now nearly all students have at least one electronic device with them in class, be it a smart phone, tablet, or laptop.
Gradebook running total
Whether you use a Weighted Total column and/or the Total column, take a look at how the use of the Running Total option affects your students’ perception of their grade.
To experiment without adjusting an actual student’s grade record, click on the “Go To Student View” button located in the upper right corner under the tabs that say “My Blackboard” and “Courses.”
Accidentally on purpose – community skill building
Do your students use Blackboard or WordPress? Are you concerned these tools get in the way of students learning course content? Seize the opportunity to facilitate learning through play. Help your students build a community of their peers while teaching them how to use the course-required tools with social assignments. Tackle the “I don’t know how” issue head-on with a bit of fun, and cohort-building, on the side.
Open books
Learn more about Open Education Resources, specifically open textbooks, peer-reviewed materials and materials shared under a Creative Commons license. Your students (and you!) don’t have to spend money to obtain current, peer-reviewed data.
Community
Whether you teach face-to-face or online, consider using a WordPress site for all or most of your course content. UAF eCampus supports a multisite WordPress installation at community.uaf.edu.
Visualization
Infographics are not just for the visual learner. Use one to engage your student where there is slightly dry material or to explain a particularly tricky concept.
Incremental change
Get ready for next semester now. This teaching tip helps you think about how to make the needed changes while enjoying the process. Whether face-to-face or online, all classes need routine care.
Extra credit
How you choose to use extra credit can enhance a student’s learning opportunities. Whether you’re for or against the use, a few simple rules will make it easier to deploy. Consider using optional quizzes over the reading material prior to the start of class to encourage students to be prepared for in-class discussion.
Survey says – ask your students…
Provide your students an avenue to communicate with you on how they are learning or what is working in your course. Use a Google form, a quick poll from Poll Everywhere, or a JotForm survey, etc.
Wikis
Wikis are great for group work with your students. Wikis are web sites or web pages that multiple authors can edit without needing to know HTML code.
Conquer public speaking
A semester-based Communications class may help you improve your public speaking. If you have a pressing need or cannot commit to a full class, look to the Toastmaster clubs in your area.
Copyright and Fair Use
Be confident using copyrighted materials in your course. This tip highlights information on copyright, the fair use doctrine, public domain and Creative Commons.