Faculty Focus

MAY 15, 2025

After years of teaching, I noticed how often students carried academic, emotional, and personal burdens without sharing them. From Curiosity to Campuswide Inquiry The project began in two large general education courses I teach at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: FSHN 101: The Science of Food and FSHN 120: Contemporary Nutrition.

Disabilities 54

Disabilities Course Design Students Lecturing 54

Cal Matters

JUNE 26, 2025

As teaching and learning increasingly shifted online throughout the early 2000s and 2010s, Turnitin became more embedded in classes. In his syllabus, where the university requires him to include a statement about Turnitin, Stommel tells students, “It is my commitment to you that I will not submit any of your work to Turnitin.

Plagiarism 117

Plagiarism Assignments Academic Integrity Writing 117

Catlin Tucker

JULY 19, 2020

Most of the teachers I know, including my husband and most of my friends, are not sure whether they will be returning to school on a hybrid schedule or teaching entirely online. Module 1: Teaching Presence–Designing Your Blended/Online Course. Module 2: Teaching Presence–Designing Blended/Online Lessons.

Online Learning 546

Online Learning Syllabus Learning Discussions 546

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 124

Syllabus Lecturing Discussions Science 124

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

Ever wonder why students dont read the syllabus, despite the time and effort we put into creating it? In many classes, professors go over the syllabus during the first week (Richmond, 2016), so frequently that students have dubbed it syllabus week not exactly the most exciting start to a semester!

Syllabus 124

Syllabus Students Activities Instructors 124

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 25, 2025

Ever wonder why students dont read the syllabus, despite the time and effort we put into creating it? In many classes, professors go over the syllabus during the first week (Richmond, 2016), so frequently that students have dubbed it syllabus week not exactly the most exciting start to a semester!

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Students Activities Instructors 98

eSchool News

AUGUST 29, 2024

Additionally, these digital tools need to support the means of expression through written assignments, presentations, or discussions to make the learning environment as engaging as possible. Final word The integration of e-learning within the UDL framework is a good way to create deeper student interaction and understanding.

Learning 300

Learning Syllabus Universal Design Quizzes 300

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

JANUARY 24, 2023

Here’s an inconvenient truth about inclusive teaching: there are no quick fixes. Language for the disability statement in their syllabus. In other words, we need to take the time to create inclusive learning communities if we’re going to make the most of teaching and learning. It’s inconvenient because faculty are stressed.

Teaching 122

Teaching Syllabus Instructors Disabilities 122

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

The student and professor both shared the story last week during a session on culturally-responsive teaching in online courses at the 2017 OLC Accelerate Conference, in Orlando. 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 153

Culture Teaching Syllabus English 153

Edsurge

MARCH 2, 2023

Colleges found new ways of scaling, rethinking how teaching is done online. teach remote students. The institution was built with online in mind, and focuses on a so-called competency-based teaching method, where students work at their own pace and get credit when they show they know the material. It turns out he was right.

Teaching 176

Teaching Instructors Syllabus Assignments 176

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 18, 2024

When I started as an adjunct faculty member, I had no teaching experience. I was handed a syllabus, a classroom, and students, and left to figure out the rest on my own. These are three essential things that adjunct faculty (and all faculty) need to know about teaching when getting started.

Teaching 119

Teaching Syllabus Feedback Instructors 119

Edsurge

MARCH 6, 2019

The last hour of class is dedicated to discussing the reading. And he wanted to shake things up in his teaching after noticing how hard it was for him to not reach for his phone while reading—a habit that his students said they also struggled with. There’s also a pause for lunch around noon. It’s pervasive.

Reading 163

Reading Teaching Lecturing Syllabus 163

Edsurge

APRIL 18, 2018

The concept of gradual release of responsibility is second nature to me when working with students in grades K-12, but in my new role teaching graduate students in an education technology program, I am struggling to model so many of the practices I expect these teachers to use in their own classrooms. But it’s more complex than that.

Teaching 163

Teaching Education Learning Syllabus 163

Edsurge

JANUARY 9, 2019

The following is the latest installment of the Toward Better Teaching advice column. Andrea Fuentes, Director of Online Learning, Doral College Cultivating an engaging environment can be a challenge when teaching online. Rethink Discussion Boards We need to rethink discussion boards if they are ever going to be worthwhile.

Instructors 161

Instructors Syllabus Peer Review Students 161

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 24, 2023

Here’s an inconvenient truth about inclusive teaching: there are no quick fixes. Language for the disability statement in their syllabus. In other words, we need to take the time to create inclusive learning communities if we’re going to make the most of teaching and learning. It’s inconvenient because faculty are stressed.

Teaching 98

Teaching Syllabus Instructors Disabilities 98

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

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 18, 2024

When I started as an adjunct faculty member, I had no teaching experience. I was handed a syllabus, a classroom, and students, and left to figure out the rest on my own. These are three essential things that adjunct faculty (and all faculty) need to know about teaching when getting started.

Teaching 111

Teaching Syllabus Feedback Instructors 111

Edsurge

JULY 21, 2025

Their middle school benefits from stable funding, high-quality teachers, and a strong IT department, all leading to discussions about AI in their sixth grade classrooms. The AI’s clarity helped me understand the syllabus better than just reading it on my own.” That idea alone changed how I’m approaching this class.”

English 149

English Syllabus Ethics Students 149

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 22, 2024

This article first appeared in The Teaching Professor on August 8, 2022 © Magna Publications. Try a FREE three-week trial of The Teaching Professor! I probably shouldn’t admit this, but when I was just beginning my teaching career, I had one clear goal on the first day of class: scare the living crap out of my students.

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Discussions Beliefs Questions 111

Faculty Focus

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Reflecting on my first year as a full-time clinical assistant professor, I feel that I have experienced significant growth in my teaching. I am also grateful for the kind and seasoned colleagues who have taken the time to share their favorite, creative, and engaging teaching techniques with me.

Syllabus 122

Syllabus Lecturing Instructors Feedback 122

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 22, 2024

This article first appeared in The Teaching Professor on August 8, 2022 © Magna Publications. Try a FREE three-week trial of The Teaching Professor! I probably shouldn’t admit this, but when I was just beginning my teaching career, I had one clear goal on the first day of class: scare the living crap out of my students.

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Discussions Beliefs Questions 105

Faculty Focus

MARCH 14, 2023

Integral to these efforts, the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) designed and delivered several faculty development opportunities focusing on research-based teaching and learning strategies that support student mental health and well-being. Described below are three ways that instructors support student well-being and mental health.

Syllabus 131

Syllabus Exams Instructors Assignments 131

Faculty Focus

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Reflecting on my first year as a full-time clinical assistant professor, I feel that I have experienced significant growth in my teaching. I am also grateful for the kind and seasoned colleagues who have taken the time to share their favorite, creative, and engaging teaching techniques with me.

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Lecturing Instructors Feedback 111

Scholarly Teacher

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Cavazos , The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Ryan McBride , The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Key Statement: Student-faculty partnerships can foster asset-based approaches in teaching and learning that challenge implicit linguistic bias and enhance students’ linguistically diverse resources. 2024; Cook-Sather, 2020).

Teaching 98

Teaching Instructors English Language 98

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 21, 2025

When we approach teaching from this perspective, we move away from punitive measures, fear-based management, and skepticism about students honesty. Collaborative syllabus design: During the first class, engage students in setting community and classroom norms and goals. 2014; Agarwal, 2019).

Plagiarism 122

Plagiarism Syllabus Ethics Feedback 122

Edsurge

OCTOBER 27, 2020

Much of the connection that came with teaching and learning has been lost, and we’re feeling it every day. I began my career teaching middle school in a windowless classroom in south Los Angeles where I wore slacks, heels and blouses. My syllabus had a no-technology policy and it wasn’t perfect, but it helped.

Teachers 213

Teachers Syllabus Schools Students 213

Edsurge

OCTOBER 3, 2016

Within the Providence Public School District, nearly 92 percent of students are people of color while the teaching force is almost 80 percent white. What good is a blended and personalized classroom if students cannot openly discuss issues of equity? Christopher Emdin’s book, “ For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood.

Culture 167

Culture Education Syllabus Attention 167

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

This model has become more common in the past year as a result of the pandemic and as colleges look for different ways to reach their students while teaching remotely. They can check announcements during work breaks or read discussion posts while waiting for a flight at the airport.

Online Learning 189

Online Learning Instructors Coaching Mobile Devices 189

Edsurge

MARCH 7, 2024

But the experiment points to interesting possibilities — and raises ethical questions — about how the latest AI tech might be used to improve teaching. While Arizona State hasn’t created virtual students, it recently announced a big commitment to experimenting with AI to improve its teaching.

Intelligence 211

Intelligence Syllabus Feedback Assignments 211

Edsurge

JUNE 6, 2024

Tech giants Google, Microsoft and OpenAI have unintentionally assigned educators around the world major homework for the summer: Adjusting their assignments and teaching methods to adapt to a fresh batch of AI features that students will enter classrooms with in the fall. The tools are coming fast, though.

Lecturing 216

Lecturing Education Assignments Syllabus 216

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. With other current events, I’m quick to brush up on the latest news, curating articles for my students to discuss in class. they exclaimed. En classe?!”

English 201

English Culture Syllabus Writing 201

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. Luckily our team had a lot of resources already put out there for them, but we did do a special curation of those on a teaching and learning continuity page.

Accessibility 217

Accessibility Disabilities Universal Design Syllabus 217

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Instead of thinking about the LMS as simply a repository for course essentials (syllabus, contact information, etc.), Whether you’re just getting started with using an LMS in conjunction with your teaching practices, or consider yourself an expert, here are some strategies for effective use of this tool. Melissa Samaniego, Ed.D.

Syllabus 122

Syllabus Instructors Assignments Faculty Development 122

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

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

Teaching in higher education involves far more than delivering content. Furthermore, teaching should aim to prepare students for active civic engagement. It reframes the syllabus not as a fixed legal document, but as a living agreement shaped by both instructor expertise and student input. Often, class ends early.

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 105