Learning and Sharing
While teaching in Japan, I told stories about perseverance using Wayne Gretzky, endurance using Terry Fox, and politeness using the pervasive Canadian “sorry”. The stories fell flat because my Japanese audience couldn’t connect. What did they know about these topics? Nothing. My point never hit its target so I started using Japanese examples. At the … Read more
We know the benefits of active learning with some instructors trying classroom flipping to engage students. However, some have said that students just don’t prepare in advance and their class outline goes out the window. What successes have you had with classroom flipping and what fallbacks could you recommend if some students don’t prepare?
Digital analytics are useful in measuring student performance (2017). Blackboard, for example, offers over 30 reports giving you granular student data to an overview of class progress. Choosing the best report to get the information you need is a question ETS often receives. What educational analytic do you use, or would like to see, that … Read more
When doing group work, I expect that there will be at least one group member who doesn’t pull their weight. As a student, I remember having to pick up the slack to get group assignments done. Instructors know this is common in group work and have tried various methods to assess performance. One such method … Read more
A camera is considered a digital tool to enhance learning, so too are audio recorders, DVDs and smartboards to name just a few. When thinking “digital pedagogy” we often focus solely on the Internet (e.g. YouTube, Google & Kahoots). Let’s expand our short list above. What one digital tool do you find most effective in … Read more
We all use apps that organize and enhance our lives in a variety of ways. There are many features in Blackboard that can organize and enhance the delivery of your courses. Here are three Blackboard features that when used, can organize and enhance the academic experience of your students. One: Calendar Blackboard has a real-time … Read more
I read a case study recently about a student who had made a few attempts to pass a required course in her program. She just couldn’t master the basics and was getting frustrated. She is going to attempt the course again. Imagine this student enrolls in your class and tells you she is concerned about … Read more
Active learning methods get students engaged in their own learning. Collaborative learning groups, problem-based learning, and flipped classrooms are just a few examples of active leaning. We all see the benefits of active learning and there is little debate in its effectiveness. But, some have said, “But I love teaching, I love being the instructor … Read more
Narrative Pedagogy, or storytelling, is an educational tool we can offer students who learn in a variety of ways and who enter the classroom with diverse interests and backgrounds. Some instructors are more comfortable using this tool than others. Have you adopted storytelling into your classroom? If so, share an example and its outcome.
The recent Digital Pedagogy Lab emphasized the importance of Digital Literacy. We may think we are savvy in the world of digital literacy on the internet and now have the responsibility to teach this literacy to students. But, how savvy are we? I know a few stories had me fooled. Go through Snopes’ “Hot 50” … Read more