Edsurge

OCTOBER 27, 2020

Much of the connection that came with teaching and learning has been lost, and we’re feeling it every day. During a lesson, it was easy to see students’ reactions—if they were paying attention, confused, or engaged—and I could adjust on the spot as needed. My syllabus had a no-technology policy and it wasn’t perfect, but it helped.

Teachers 213

Teachers Syllabus Schools Students 213

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

It means cultivating an inclusive and participatory environment where students feel seen, valued, and empowered to learn. Increasingly, instructors report difficulty maintaining students attention, citing ever-present distractions like smartphones, laptops, and a relentless stream of digital notifications.

Syllabus 104

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 104

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 20, 2024

But, just then, one of the shop windows caught our attention…this window was not like the others as four stuffed animals sat playing poker. Exhibit 2: Thompson’s Barbie themed class syllabus (Spring 2024). After all, change is the spice of life that can help bring new experiences and new attention to make life more enjoyable.

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Attention Assignments Activities 111

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 20, 2024

But, just then, one of the shop windows caught our attention…this window was not like the others as four stuffed animals sat playing poker. Exhibit 2: Thompson’s Barbie themed class syllabus (Spring 2024). After all, change is the spice of life that can help bring new experiences and new attention to make life more enjoyable.

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Attention Assignments Activities 111

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

It means cultivating an inclusive and participatory environment where students feel seen, valued, and empowered to learn. Increasingly, instructors report difficulty maintaining students attention, citing ever-present distractions like smartphones, laptops, and a relentless stream of digital notifications.

Syllabus 97

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 97

Edsurge

JUNE 6, 2024

Educators at both schools and colleges were already struggling to keep up with ChatGPT and other AI tools during this academic year, but a fresh round of announcements last month by major AI companies may require even greater adjustments by educators to preserve academic integrity and to accurately assess student learning, teaching experts say.

Lecturing 216

Lecturing Education Assignments Syllabus 216

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 10, 2021

Let’s today cover how to get students through the summer learning experience: Make the class interesting. Teach class in a park, in a museum’s group learning room, at a restaurant over a meal, in someone’s home, or in the school auditorium. I’ve talked about best practices for teaching. Use disruptive tools.

Motivation 154

Motivation Schools Syllabus Students 154

Edsurge

MARCH 7, 2024

The unusual idea seems in some ways like a publicity stunt to call attention to a the academic major it offers in artificial intelligence — and local TV news stations pounced on the notion that nonhuman classmates would be participating side-by-side in hybrid college classes with T-shirt-clad young people.

Intelligence 212

Intelligence Syllabus Feedback Assignments 212

Edsurge

OCTOBER 3, 2016

Accompanying the push for more personalized learning is an emphasis on increasing student voice and agency in classrooms. Let’s turn our attention to the growing population of students whose voices are seldom heard, and give them the attention and resources they deserve.

Culture 167

Culture Education Syllabus Attention 167

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. At this point, I still have not reviewed the syllabus with them and instead begin a community building activity.

Student Engagement 116

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 116

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 23, 2022

But this year, with the arrival of the World Cup, I came prepared, and my students knew it when they saw our sports journalism unit built into the syllabus on the first day. I learned my lesson four years ago when I taught summer school during the previous World Cup. Are these days blocked off for the World Cup?!” they exclaimed.

English 201

English Culture Syllabus Writing 201

Faculty Focus

DECEMBER 15, 2024

For some, planning revolves around syllabus revision, closing loopholes, and adjusting dates. This may not sound particularly innovative, especially since many teachers provide a calendar in the syllabus. Designate time periods for the learning, based on content difficulty and importance. It wasnt an effective system.

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Exams Course Outline Attention 105

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 29, 2023

In spring 2021, inspired by feedback from students, I redesigned my two undergraduate education courses as blended learning courses. While I was familiar with the benefits of blended learning (e.g., So, what is blended learning? 2019; Vallée et al., 2019; Vallée et al.,

Blended Learning 132

Blended Learning Lecturing Education Learning 132

Edsurge

MARCH 6, 2019

On the first day of class, students read an article in the Guardian about the ways that apps, social media and other technology are designed to grab and hold on to our attention. Some faculty members point to research showing how laptops can be more of a distraction than a learning enabler. We are learning as we go,” he said.

Reading 163

Reading Teaching Lecturing Syllabus 163

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

However, I have learned that many students tend to be reluctant to reach out for a variety of reasons. You could include personal information and/or a photo, in addition to the course syllabus and other course-related information. Instead of being annoyed at the disruptions, this seemed to encourage my students to pay more attention.

Instructors 122

Instructors Syllabus Attention Teaching Assistants 122

Edsurge

DECEMBER 13, 2022

So I would be very curious to learn after the fact if you see anything like that.” On many of the laptop screens, I saw students looking at the slides from the day’s lecture, which the professor had made available for download beforehand on the learning management system. In a way I wanted another witness to confirm what I was seeing.

Lecturing 205

Lecturing Students Attention Syllabus 205

Faculty Focus

DECEMBER 15, 2024

For some, planning revolves around syllabus revision, closing loopholes, and adjusting dates. This may not sound particularly innovative, especially since many teachers provide a calendar in the syllabus. Designate time periods for the learning, based on content difficulty and importance. It wasnt an effective system.

Syllabus 94

Syllabus Exams Course Outline Attention 94

Edsurge

APRIL 26, 2018

How do we move beyond grades to more meaningful demonstrations of learning? On Tuesday, April 24 the #DLNchat community got together to discuss and debate: How Can Alternative Assignments Effectively Assess Student Learning? Ideally, exams should be used more as a learning tool than an assessment tool. Yes exactly.

Assignments 97

Assignments Exams Instructors Learning 97

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. At this point, I still have not reviewed the syllabus with them and instead begin a community building activity.

Student Engagement 98

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 98

Gaggle Speaks

APRIL 20, 2015

Today’s classroom is filled with learners with different skill sets , requiring varying levels of attention. The use of technology in the classroom, particularly a Learning Management System (LMS ), can greatly reduce the time required to plan, develop and implement differentiated instruction inside and outside of the classroom.

Syllabus 104

Syllabus Assignments Learning Styles Group work 104

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

But the attention may not be having the desired effect, as business is booming for Proctorio and other companies that sell automated proctoring services. Is a ‘desk scan’ necessary for a syllabus quiz? You are assuming that students are trying to cheat—rather than assuming students are trying to learn and help them learn.”

Plagiarism 218

Plagiarism Exams Confidentiality Testing 218

Faculty Focus

JUNE 22, 2023

The asynchronous learning environment allows students to view materials, and self-schedule the review and implementation of course instructions. Teaching in the online asynchronous format can be great for the unconventional student but can pose challenges in experiential learning, and ultimately, lead to a lack of confidence for faculty.

Learning 111

Learning Syllabus Assignments Communication 111

Edsurge

FEBRUARY 22, 2019

Not only because (if we are going to do it well) facilitating the learning of others requires a lot of energy. But also because if we are experiencing feelings that are not conducive to the work of learning, we can inadvertently transfer those emotions to our students—just as they might catch a cold from us if we’re sick.

Attention 116

Attention Syllabus Students Coaching 116

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 21, 2024

After four decades of such reflection, I am keenly aware that understanding effective teaching strategies, the students I serve, and how learning works requires my constant attention. This then leads to countless hours of designing assessments and learning experiences. This is critical work. Analyze your course policies (i.e.,

Syllabus 132

Syllabus Exams Students Motivation 132

Faculty Focus

DECEMBER 17, 2023

For some, planning revolves around syllabus revision, closing loopholes, and adjusting dates. This may not sound particularly innovative, especially since many teachers provide a calendar in the syllabus. Designate time periods for the learning, based on content difficulty and importance. It wasn’t an effective system.

Exams 109

Exams Syllabus Course Outline Attention 109

Faculty Focus

DECEMBER 17, 2023

For some, planning revolves around syllabus revision, closing loopholes, and adjusting dates. This may not sound particularly innovative, especially since many teachers provide a calendar in the syllabus. Designate time periods for the learning, based on content difficulty and importance. It wasn’t an effective system.

Exams 105

Exams Syllabus Course Outline Attention 105

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

However, I have learned that many students tend to be reluctant to reach out for a variety of reasons. You could include personal information and/or a photo, in addition to the course syllabus and other course-related information. Instead of being annoyed at the disruptions, this seemed to encourage my students to pay more attention.

Instructors 98

Instructors Syllabus Attention Teaching Assistants 98

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 29, 2023

In spring 2021, inspired by feedback from students, I redesigned my two undergraduate education courses as blended learning courses. While I was familiar with the benefits of blended learning (e.g., So, what is blended learning? 2019; Vallée et al., 2019; Vallée et al.,

Blended Learning 98

Blended Learning Lecturing Education Learning 98

Faculty Focus

JUNE 25, 2023

I learned by osmosis. They challenged students to take responsibility for their education and worked alongside them in the teaching and learning process as mentors or colleagues. According to the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, “Student engagement is the psychological investment a student makes in learning.”

Coaching 105

Coaching Syllabus Confidentiality Assignments 105

Faculty Focus

JUNE 22, 2023

The asynchronous learning environment allows students to view materials, and self-schedule the review and implementation of course instructions. Teaching in the online asynchronous format can be great for the unconventional student but can pose challenges in experiential learning, and ultimately, lead to a lack of confidence for faculty.

Learning 98

Learning Syllabus Assignments Communication 98

Edsurge

MARCH 11, 2019

Right before the start of the Fall semester in 2002, Robertson learned that the 400-seat movie theater that held his Principles of Marketing class at San Francisco State University would no longer be available. Using tech to personalize learning Robertson has long believed that the linear approach to teaching may not be right for everyone.

Curriculum 156

Curriculum Hybrid Courses Lecturing Gamification 156

Faculty Focus

JUNE 25, 2023

I learned by osmosis. They challenged students to take responsibility for their education and worked alongside them in the teaching and learning process as mentors or colleagues. According to the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, “Student engagement is the psychological investment a student makes in learning.”

Coaching 98

Coaching Syllabus Confidentiality Assignments 98

Faculty Focus

MAY 29, 2025

After 13 years of testing higher-order active learning modalities in the classroom, collecting data, building a database, and analyzing student learning results in bi-annual principles of marketing classes, my colleague and I saw two important results emerge.

Student Engagement 52

Student Engagement Syllabus Learning Students 52

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 5, 2018

And that is one of the learning objectives: that we know very little about other places.” University of Michigan marketing professor John Branch rebuilds the learning experience by taking a precision engineering approach to course design. What are the new technologies, ideas, or learning theories that I could apply to this course?

Quizzes 167

Quizzes Failure Culture Students 167

Edsurge

AUGUST 8, 2017

So a few years ago Talbert, a math professor at Grand Valley State University, tried a new approach, known as flipped learning—a method catching on these days in college classrooms. It’s called “ Flipped Learning: A Guide for Higher Education Faculty.” I wasn’t really paying attention to their answers.

Failure 146

Failure Lecturing Syllabus Instructors 146

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

and they pay special attention as I detail each step. This gives us the opportunity for open dialogue and learning. Now a different type of learning experience ensues: how to problem solve and report concerns in the real world. Submit a correction to OpenStax. Forward the OpenStax confirmation to me. Receive extra credit!

Textbooks 115

Textbooks Syllabus Instructors Peer Review 115

Edsurge

MAY 15, 2019

How I figure it, there are a list of things I find reasonable for all students—letting them stand or wiggle when they are having problems with attention or sleepiness, taking extra time to answer questions for assignments and projects, moving at a pace that is comfortable for the slowest in the group when we are on-the-move for class, etc.

Disabilities 130

Disabilities Students Assignments Syllabus 130