Connecting Students to Beauty and Wonder What and how we teach can seem like a routine, especially at this point in the semester. For students, too, endlessly scrolling through unlimited entertainment can lead to an increased sense of routine and boredom in other arenas. This may seem rather ironic, but… Continue reading…
Rethinking PDFs in the Age of Accessibility Conveying information to your students is one of the most important and complicated tasks you complete in your classroom. As we shared earlier in the semester, accessibility is important for all your course materials; this week we focus on PDFs. As we ramp up for April… Continue reading…
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) This week, we continue exploring the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, developed by CAST, which helps us design learning environments that give every student the opportunity to succeed. The CAST UDL Guidelines can be applied in any discipline or setting to ensure that all learners are able to access… Continue reading…
Fostering Expert Learners through UDL The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, developed by CAST, encourages instructors to create flexible learning environments that meet the needs of all students. UDL aims to help students become expert learners: individuals who are purposeful, motivated, resourceful, and strategic. Below are three ways to promote expert learning in… Continue reading…
Mid-Semester Feedback Now that you’ve provided midterm grades and feedback to students, this week we’d like to discuss the importance of midterm evaluations for you as an instructor. Waiting until the end of the semester to hear from students means missing the chance to make improvements that could help them… Continue reading…
Generative AI Use Tips Many faculty and students are using Generative AI (GAI) in both academic work and their personal lives. UNCG has a posted GAI policy that provides a variety of options for addressing GAI in your course and offers suggested syllabus language to make your approach transparent to students. UNCG’s policy… Continue reading…
Preparing Students for Midterms Midterms are just around the corner! Many students (especially first-years) just cram or reread notes to prepare for tests and other high-stakes assessments. Research by Stephen Chew shows that explicitly teaching effective study strategies can significantly boost student learning and confidence. Demonstrating how to effectively study in your… Continue reading…
Evaluation isn’t just for the end of the semester We are starting week three, and the beginning of the semester honeymoon phase is nearing its end. The excitement of the start of the semester has settled. The first few quizzes and projects are due soon (if not already), and students start bringing… Continue reading…
Accessibility and Your Classroom This week, we urge you to consider accessibility in your classroom, which is helpful to all students (and us as faculty as well). New accessibility requirements for online materials provided by state and local governments will be effective April 2026. However, accessibility is also vital to keep in… Continue reading…
Building Community in Class Teaching tips for the beginning of the semster: Intentional work to connect with your students is a time and effort investment, but one that will create a better learning space for both you and your students. Elliott, D., Gamino, M., & Jenkins, J. J. (2016). Creating community… Continue reading…
