Faculty Focus

JANUARY 30, 2024

Reimagining the traditional “syllabus day” to an engaged “preview day” provides an opportunity to set a desired tone for the semester. In the final 20 minutes of class, I tend to shift focus to the syllabus. These questions reside in a discussion board so all students can see responses.

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Lecturing Discussions Science 111

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

As an instructor, I have always considered myself to be friendly and approachable. Student perceptions of their instructors’ attitude toward them has been shown to be a predictor of student motivation (Wilson J. If they have not opened the course syllabus or were not in class on the first day, this could be addressed in the email.

Instructors 122

Instructors Syllabus Attention Teaching Assistants 122

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

Ever wonder why students dont read the syllabus, despite the time and effort we put into creating it? It serves as a contract between instructors and students (Eberly, Newton, & Wiggins, 2001), outlining the entire semesters expectations, assignments, and deadlines. Use Notebook LM to create a podcast of your syllabus.

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Students Activities Instructors 98

eSchool News

OCTOBER 7, 2015

With that in mind, certain strategies, tips, and guidelines have been proven to help instructors begin what can seem like an overwhelming task—teaching a course without ever even needing to physically see her students. Discussion boards encourage critical and creative thinking and supports students in their own reflections and inquiries.

Education 279

Education Syllabus Instructors Feedback 279

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

As an instructor, I have always considered myself to be friendly and approachable. Student perceptions of their instructors’ attitude toward them has been shown to be a predictor of student motivation (Wilson J. If they have not opened the course syllabus or were not in class on the first day, this could be addressed in the email.

Instructors 98

Instructors Syllabus Attention Teaching Assistants 98

Faculty Focus

JUNE 18, 2023

In a face-to-face class, students see the instructor and other students and, even if not interacting with them directly, know they are not alone. But asynchronous courses, and especially asynchronous independent study courses, present a different scenario with challenges for both instructors and students. Who is my instructor?”

Instructors 105

Instructors Syllabus Assignments Feedback 105

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

All too often, they would wind up needing to ask their instructor a question about the assignment but had no time to receive an answer before the deadline passed. They can check announcements during work breaks or read discussion posts while waiting for a flight at the airport.

Online Learning 183

Online Learning Instructors Coaching Mobile Devices 183

Edsurge

JUNE 10, 2021

The journalism instructor at the University of Minnesota keeps the process simple, with brief questions similar to these: What should keep happening in this class? During the next class period, she discusses the findings with her students. Instructors collect responses, then figure out and explain what they’re going to do differently.

Feedback 191

Feedback Instructors Students Syllabus 191

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. It also enhances the teaching experience for the instructor. I incorporate graphs and charts to clarify grading. Reference Addy, T.

Syllabus 122

Syllabus Lecturing Instructors Feedback 122

Edsurge

MARCH 2, 2023

In the early days of online education, I imagined that virtual classrooms would follow the same basic model as in-person ones, with an instructor leading the same number of students typical in a campus class. Students attend WGU entirely on screen, with instructors engaging with them virtually by email, phone, text and video.

Teaching 171

Teaching Instructors Syllabus Assignments 171

Faculty Focus

MARCH 14, 2023

These pedagogies provide instructors a powerful opportunity to create learning environments that effectively support all students, minimize student stress, and support overall student mental health, without sacrificing academic rigor. Described below are three ways that instructors support student well-being and mental health.

Syllabus 131

Syllabus Exams Instructors Assignments 131

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Instead of thinking about the LMS as simply a repository for course essentials (syllabus, contact information, etc.), For instance: One instructor might have clearly labeled modules containing content for each week, while another might use one module for all handouts and another for all assignments.

Syllabus 122

Syllabus Instructors Assignments Faculty Development 122

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 24, 2023

Language for the disability statement in their syllabus. For so many instructors, whether they’re a TA, someone just starting out, or a seasoned professor with decades of experience, the answer is, “no.” So, when faculty come to me with a problem, they want an answer. A quick-guide on how to respond to microaggressions. Start strong.

Teaching 122

Teaching Syllabus Instructors Disabilities 122

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. It also enhances the teaching experience for the instructor. I incorporate graphs and charts to clarify grading. Reference Addy, T.

Syllabus 110

Syllabus Lecturing Instructors Feedback 110

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

She also lets them decide if they want to reflect in a discussion forum with their classmates, or personally send her their reflections. “I Instructors should make sure students have the opportunity to build their own learning experiences, Parra argues. In the end she builds the final syllabus based on their suggestions.

Culture 151

Culture Teaching Syllabus English 151

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

Increasingly, instructors report difficulty maintaining students attention, citing ever-present distractions like smartphones, laptops, and a relentless stream of digital notifications. Rather than dictating course policies and classroom norms, instructors can instead ask: What do you think about this plan? Often, class ends early.

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 116

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 116

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. What are some of the accessibility needs college students have that instructors, researchers and course designers should be thinking about when moving courses online?

Accessibility 218

Accessibility Disabilities Universal Design Syllabus 218

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 29, 2023

However, as a former instructor of online courses, I have seen first-hand the power of introducing a librarian to a group of online students and how such exposure can lead to curiosity on a topic and deepen student learning. Be open to a discussion of the course you teach or plan to teach. This could be quite a revealing discussion.

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Instructors Learning Assignments 98

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

But Rima Al Tawil (2019) demonstrates that there is a variety of ways in which nonverbal cues make their way into online learning, and it is important for instructors to understand these communication influences to monitor and manage the tone of their courses. A student needs to be in class at specific times each week.

Instructors 104

Instructors Communication Syllabus Discussions 104

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Instead of thinking about the LMS as simply a repository for course essentials (syllabus, contact information, etc.), For instance: One instructor might have clearly labeled modules containing content for each week, while another might use one module for all handouts and another for all assignments.

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Instructors Assignments Faculty Development 105

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

Increasingly, instructors report difficulty maintaining students attention, citing ever-present distractions like smartphones, laptops, and a relentless stream of digital notifications. Rather than dictating course policies and classroom norms, instructors can instead ask: What do you think about this plan? Often, class ends early.

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 98

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

JUNE 1, 2023

As such, more instructors are teaching online courses. Asynchronous online courses can create barriers for instructors to connect with students, but instructors can implement small and significant changes to their online courses that can help build community, connection, and relationships. Why did you take this course?

Instructors 59

Instructors Syllabus Assignments Feedback 59

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., Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors.

Plagiarism 121

Plagiarism Syllabus Ethics Feedback 121

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 21, 2024

Five strategies to foster sense of belonging Be caring and authentic: Syllabus policies and language, as well as introductory comments on the first day of class, set the tone for an entire term. For example, before an exam, I discuss how and why I would prepare differently for a multiple-choice versus an essay exam.

Syllabus 132

Syllabus Exams Students Motivation 132

Faculty Focus

JUNE 2, 2024

Aside from a bare-bones syllabus, the professor never showed up. Those who participate in fully online courses, particularly asynchronous ones, may feel isolated from their instructor, their peers, and the university as a whole. My first and only fully online class taken as an undergraduate student was a complete disaster.

Syllabus 131

Syllabus Course Design Learning Students 131

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 111

Teaching Syllabus Feedback Instructors 111

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 24, 2023

Language for the disability statement in their syllabus. For so many instructors, whether they’re a TA, someone just starting out, or a seasoned professor with decades of experience, the answer is, “no.” So, when faculty come to me with a problem, they want an answer. A quick-guide on how to respond to microaggressions. Start strong.

Teaching 98

Teaching Syllabus Instructors Disabilities 98

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

Edsurge

JUNE 6, 2024

Try pausing your lecture and start having debates with your students — get into small group discussions,” he says. Encourage students to do annotations — to read with pen or pencil or highlighter. That’s going to be a real time saver for faculty,” he predicts.

Lecturing 216

Lecturing Education Assignments Syllabus 216

Faculty Focus

MARCH 14, 2023

These pedagogies provide instructors a powerful opportunity to create learning environments that effectively support all students, minimize student stress, and support overall student mental health, without sacrificing academic rigor. Described below are three ways that instructors support student well-being and mental health.

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Exams Instructors Assignments 98

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. Often, there are suggestions on what AI can do, but instructors might struggle with figuring out how to use it effectively. Need a YouTube video summarized or some awesome questions?

Syllabus 119

Syllabus Assignments Feedback Teaching Assistants 119

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 27, 2024

Connecting with students shifts the obligation from the instructor working singularly to create an inclusive environment to one where the class works collectively to build the community. Instructors lead by example, sharing information about themselves, their backgrounds, and their interests, and encourage students to do the same.

Instructors 116

Instructors Students Minute Papers Course Design 116

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

But Rima Al Tawil (2019) demonstrates that there is a variety of ways in which nonverbal cues make their way into online learning, and it is important for instructors to understand these communication influences to monitor and manage the tone of their courses. A student needs to be in class at specific times each week.

Instructors 88

Instructors Communication Syllabus Discussions 88

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