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. So, I moved onto showing them the “About Your Instructor” icon in our LMS.

Student Engagement 116

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 116

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

However, the classroom is not immune to the challenges of the wider world. Increasingly, instructors report difficulty maintaining students attention, citing ever-present distractions like smartphones, laptops, and a relentless stream of digital notifications. We begin with brief introductions and a walkthrough of the syllabus.

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 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. So, I moved onto showing them the “About Your Instructor” icon in our LMS.

Student Engagement 98

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 98

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

However, the classroom is not immune to the challenges of the wider world. Increasingly, instructors report difficulty maintaining students attention, citing ever-present distractions like smartphones, laptops, and a relentless stream of digital notifications. We begin with brief introductions and a walkthrough of the syllabus.

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 98

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 20, 2024

We may not have a storefront window to attract attention, but we do have something that students see before the start of the semester that can grab their attention, set the tone, and get them excited about entering the class…your syllabus! 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

We may not have a storefront window to attract attention, but we do have something that students see before the start of the semester that can grab their attention, set the tone, and get them excited about entering the class…your syllabus! Exhibit 2: Thompson’s Barbie themed class syllabus (Spring 2024). Let Them Play!

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Attention Assignments Activities 111

Faculty Focus

JULY 16, 2023

At some point, most instructors were once students, so it’s easy to relate to sitting in a classroom, listening to a lecture, and perhaps feeling your mind wander. By integrating dialogue into the classroom, instructors can help students connect academic content to real-life experiences and current events.

Instructors 98

Instructors Syllabus Lecturing Knowledge 98