Faculty Focus

MARCH 12, 2023

The first day or week of the semester is often referred to as what students call “syllabus week,” because professors typically spend the first day of class reviewing the syllabus—interject a big yawn here. I consistently wanted to integrate community building activities for the students to participate in and feel safe and comfortable.

Student Engagement 115

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 115

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 1, 2024

Historically, I start the semester by walking through the syllabus, our canvas site, and previewing the course topics. I decided to go back to my learnings objectives for this activity. Since it is the first day of class I ask for volunteers to discuss their posts. As I listened, I thought about my first day of class routine.

Activities 105

Activities Syllabus Learning Knowledge 105

Faculty Focus

MARCH 12, 2023

The first day or week of the semester is often referred to as what students call “syllabus week,” because professors typically spend the first day of class reviewing the syllabus—interject a big yawn here. I consistently wanted to integrate community building activities for the students to participate in and feel safe and comfortable.

Student Engagement 98

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 98

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 1, 2024

Historically, I start the semester by walking through the syllabus, our canvas site, and previewing the course topics. I decided to go back to my learnings objectives for this activity. Since it is the first day of class I ask for volunteers to discuss their posts. As I listened, I thought about my first day of class routine.

Activities 94

Activities Syllabus Learning Knowledge 94

Edsurge

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

For the techy wonks, there are discussions on blockchain and interoperability. This session, moderated by EdSurge’s senior editor Jeff Young, will take the form of a series of lightning talks by Jill Buban (Unizen), Martin Kurzweil (Ithaka S+R) and Robert Ubell (New York University), followed by a panel discussion with the speakers.

Syllabus 115

Syllabus Science Learning Styles Testing 115

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

When Suparna Chatterjee was taking a graduate online course at New Mexico State University two years ago, she had to complete an ice-breaker activity where she was asked to create her own superhero. She also lets them decide if they want to reflect in a discussion forum with their classmates, or personally send her their reflections. “I

Culture 154

Culture Teaching Syllabus English 154

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

Furthermore, teaching should aim to prepare students for active civic engagement. The instructor typically arrives, distributes a syllabus outlining course policies and expectations, explains assignments and grading criteria, and may include a brief activity or icebreaker. Often, class ends early.

Syllabus 103

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 103

Faculty Focus

MARCH 14, 2023

The following includes a few strategies and examples to ensure clarity: A clear, inclusive syllabus with a course calendar of class activities, routines, materials, links to rubrics, etc. Clear expectations for all assignments, homework, activities, etc. Wisner, 2022). A clear agenda for each class.

Syllabus 131

Syllabus Exams Instructors Assignments 131

Faculty Focus

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Successful syllabus While there are mandatory components of a standard syllabus, I also add welcoming elements. I always begin my syllabus with an inclusive and inspirational quote. The teacher facilitates this rotation to keep the activity dynamic and engaging. I incorporate graphs and charts to clarify grading.

Syllabus 121

Syllabus Lecturing Instructors Feedback 121

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

Furthermore, teaching should aim to prepare students for active civic engagement. The instructor typically arrives, distributes a syllabus outlining course policies and expectations, explains assignments and grading criteria, and may include a brief activity or icebreaker. Often, class ends early.

Syllabus 96

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 96

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 22, 2024

The kinds of confusions and challenges that we discuss over coffee with colleagues at conferences, that we laugh about in the taxi ride back to the hotel after that keynote that wasn’t particularly interesting. But we have a legal obligation to cover the syllabus. I am happy to discuss in more detail—email me!—but

Syllabus 110

Syllabus Discussions Beliefs Questions 110

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 21, 2025

Collaborative syllabus design: During the first class, engage students in setting community and classroom norms and goals. A co-created syllabus session fosters accountability and trust, as students feel ownership of the course structure (Cook-Sather et al., 2014; Agarwal, 2019).

Plagiarism 116

Plagiarism Syllabus Ethics Feedback 116

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 22, 2024

The kinds of confusions and challenges that we discuss over coffee with colleagues at conferences, that we laugh about in the taxi ride back to the hotel after that keynote that wasn’t particularly interesting. But we have a legal obligation to cover the syllabus. I am happy to discuss in more detail—email me!—but

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Discussions Beliefs Questions 105

Edsurge

APRIL 30, 2020

On the latest installment of our monthly online discussion forum, EdSurge Live , we explored accessibility in this unusual era of emergency remote teaching. So instead of having a three-hour class, we've tried to break our lectures down into 10 minutes, followed by an interactive short activity. It's, “Did you miss the video?

Accessibility 218

Accessibility Disabilities Universal Design Syllabus 218

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 20, 2024

I know you may be thinking that play is an activity for children, but in his book “Play”, author Stuart Brown reminds us of the positive benefits of play in adulthood , which include reducing stress, fostering relationships, and enhancing one’s mood. Exhibit 2: Thompson’s Barbie themed class syllabus (Spring 2024). Let Them Play!

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Attention Assignments Activities 111

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 20, 2024

I know you may be thinking that play is an activity for children, but in his book “Play”, author Stuart Brown reminds us of the positive benefits of play in adulthood , which include reducing stress, fostering relationships, and enhancing one’s mood. Exhibit 2: Thompson’s Barbie themed class syllabus (Spring 2024). Let Them Play!

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Attention Assignments Activities 111

Edsurge

MAY 26, 2019

It’s a 6-lesson course that gathers coworkers to discuss trending educational topics and philosophies, and our colleagues have found that it has been helpful in helping them succeed in their roles. Engage Edtech Employees in Extended Learning We call the program Freshman Seminar.

Syllabus 157

Syllabus Education Failure Knowledge 157

Faculty Focus

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Successful syllabus While there are mandatory components of a standard syllabus, I also add welcoming elements. I always begin my syllabus with an inclusive and inspirational quote. The teacher facilitates this rotation to keep the activity dynamic and engaging. I incorporate graphs and charts to clarify grading.

Syllabus 108

Syllabus Lecturing Instructors Feedback 108

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Instead of thinking about the LMS as simply a repository for course essentials (syllabus, contact information, etc.), Ensure content in the LMS course matches syllabus content and information (it’s ok to have information in both the syllabus and the LMS). Ensure the course navigation menu is clear, hiding any unused items.

Syllabus 122

Syllabus Instructors Assignments Faculty Development 122

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

In fact, the long-term impact of discussing academics with the instructor was greater than that of participating in study groups and clubs (Schudde, 2019). You could include personal information and/or a photo, in addition to the course syllabus and other course-related information. The same kind of activity could be used in-person.

Instructors 122

Instructors Syllabus Attention Teaching Assistants 122

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 18, 2024

I was handed a syllabus, a classroom, and students, and left to figure out the rest on my own. In preparing that first course, I focused on what I thought were the essentials of teaching: finalizing the syllabus, picking the readings, and writing the assignments. Co-create classroom norms with your students.

Teaching 119

Teaching Syllabus Feedback Instructors 119

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 13, 2024

As generative AI evolves rapidly, it is essential to explore and discuss its impact on teaching and learning for both faculty and students. When asked if they were using AI to support academic activities, the majority of faculty who responded stated they did not use AI to support academic activities.

Syllabus 119

Syllabus Assignments Feedback Teaching Assistants 119

Faculty Focus

MAY 15, 2025

Many were enrolled in leadership-focused sections of FSHN 101 and 120 and took on active roles in the analysis, writing, and design of the final open-access book: What Your Students Arent Telling You. A reworded syllabus, an anonymous feedback survey, or a mid-semester check-in can shift a students entire trajectory.

Disabilities 53

Disabilities Course Design Lecturing Students 53

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 21, 2025

Collaborative syllabus design: During the first class, engage students in setting community and classroom norms and goals. A co-created syllabus session fosters accountability and trust, as students feel ownership of the course structure (Cook-Sather et al., 2014; Agarwal, 2019).

Plagiarism 98

Plagiarism Syllabus Ethics Feedback 98

Edsurge

JUNE 6, 2024

Now that such tools are out there, Watkins suggests that professors look for more ways to do active learning in their classes, and to put more of what he called “intentional friction” in student learning so that students are forced to stop and participate or to reflect on what is being said.

Lecturing 216

Lecturing Education Assignments Syllabus 216

Faculty Focus

JUNE 2, 2024

Aside from a bare-bones syllabus, the professor never showed up. Here are some tips for where to begin: Use intentionality when creating content, learning activities, and assessments Instructors should mindfully consider the content they present to students, the learning activities students complete, and the assessments within the class.

Syllabus 130

Syllabus Course Design Learning Students 130

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 13, 2024

As generative AI evolves rapidly, it is essential to explore and discuss its impact on teaching and learning for both faculty and students. When asked if they were using AI to support academic activities, the majority of faculty who responded stated they did not use AI to support academic activities.

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Assignments Feedback Teaching Assistants 111

Faculty Focus

MARCH 14, 2023

The following includes a few strategies and examples to ensure clarity: A clear, inclusive syllabus with a course calendar of class activities, routines, materials, links to rubrics, etc. Clear expectations for all assignments, homework, activities, etc. Wisner, 2022). A clear agenda for each class.

Syllabus 96

Syllabus Exams Instructors Assignments 96

Edsurge

MARCH 2, 2023

Students gain access to their courses — syllabus, main project, required engagements, discussion forum and other materials — a week prior to the start of class. Sessions are divided into week-long modules, opening Monday mornings and ending Sunday evenings. Undergrad courses run for eight weeks; graduate courses are 10 weeks long.

Teaching 177

Teaching Instructors Syllabus Assignments 177

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 18, 2024

I was handed a syllabus, a classroom, and students, and left to figure out the rest on my own. In preparing that first course, I focused on what I thought were the essentials of teaching: finalizing the syllabus, picking the readings, and writing the assignments. Co-create classroom norms with your students.

Teaching 109

Teaching Syllabus Feedback Instructors 109

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 29, 2023

Be open to a discussion of the course you teach or plan to teach. Include in the conversation a copy of a draft syllabus, required assignments, and any concerns you have about academic integrity. This could be quite a revealing discussion.

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Instructors Learning Assignments 98

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Instead of thinking about the LMS as simply a repository for course essentials (syllabus, contact information, etc.), Ensure content in the LMS course matches syllabus content and information (it’s ok to have information in both the syllabus and the LMS). Ensure the course navigation menu is clear, hiding any unused items.

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Instructors Assignments Faculty Development 105

Faculty Focus

NOVEMBER 6, 2022

If a student wants to discuss accommodations, try to do so during office hours or via email. For instance, when assigned to work in groups during class, students who may have trouble focusing or even hearing the discussion due to the noise level may ask the professor for permission to work in the library or outside.

Disabilities 144

Disabilities Exams Lecturing Education 144

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

We may not all have the luxury in our class schedules to take an entire week for this, but we must integrate more community building in our existing activities and schedules, especially on the first day. This activity helps focus students, spark curiosity, and increase engagement. What do you wonder (Newbery, 2023)?”

Exams 115

Exams Syllabus Group work Assignments 115

Faculty Focus

DECEMBER 15, 2022

I’m not advocating some generic relaxation, although we all do benefit from unplugging now and then but, rather, a planned and purposeful set of activities that renews your commitment to and passion for teaching. This needs to be about you and what will enable you to stand excitedly before students the next time you teach.

Syllabus 126

Syllabus Quizzes Textbooks Motivation 126

Gaggle Speaks

JULY 30, 2015

In addition, with a learning management system (LMS) that provides paperless grading , assignments are more easily distributed, completed, graded and returned, streamlining workflow and creating more time for enrichment activities, remediation tutoring and other projects. Don’t be afraid to try different types of assessments.

Grades 80

Grades Syllabus Assignments Discussions 80

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

In fact, the long-term impact of discussing academics with the instructor was greater than that of participating in study groups and clubs (Schudde, 2019). You could include personal information and/or a photo, in addition to the course syllabus and other course-related information. The same kind of activity could be used in-person.

Instructors 97

Instructors Syllabus Attention Teaching Assistants 97