Teaching in Higher Ed

Google releases new research tool

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Google has released a new research tool to help students capture and cite information, images, and quotes related to a particular reseach problem. The tool is available on the right-hand side of your window when composing a document on Google Docs.

Below is a screenshot of some research I plan on having my Introduction to Business students do in the Fall on launching a food truck business. Note that the citation is made as a footnote at the bottom of the page and only requires two clicks to create.

Researchtool [Read more…] about Google releases new research tool

Use checklists to teach more effectively and efficiently

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Lukes_smile

I've been on maternity leave this semester, loving the time I get to bond with our first child. As I think toward next semester, I'm working toward preparing for classes more effectively than I ever have before. I'm going to be teaching a full load and want to also continue to invest lots of time in our son's life.

One way I can become more efficient is to build checklists as I prepare, to make future class prep faster. [Read more…] about Use checklists to teach more effectively and efficiently

Attendance App just keeps getting better

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Most people don't enjoy learning to use new technology as much as I do and just want it to work “out of the box.” The iPhone application, Attendance, is one of those apps that is super simple to get started with – – and keeps getting better as you learn more, and as the developer adds more features to it.

Visit the Attendance page at:

http://www.dave256apps.com/attendance/

and get ready to make taking attendance and learning student names a whole lot easier.

My method for taking attendance is to have students sign a sign-in sheet as they enter the class. Then, I use the Attendance app during class to randomly call on students to assess how well they are retaining and absorbing the information. After class, I enter the attendance for that day on the iPhone app. Finally, I scan the sign-in sheets for my classes either on my scanner in my home office, or via the scanning app I use on my iPhone (GeniusScan), so I have a digial copy of the signed sheet that can be accessed at a later date, if there is a question as to whether or not they signed in that day.

Creating measurable learning objectives

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The first time I taught at the college level, I received a call to teach a course exactly five days before it began. I have now taught the same class seven times and each time I teach it, the objectives of the course change. Sometimes these differences have been dramatic, while other times I make a few minor changes to the wording.

Learning objectives are a crucial part of ongoing improvement to my course curriculum and teaching methodology. They steer the direction of a course and help gauge our progress throughout the semester.

What is Important to Learn?

Learning objectives help us to ask, ‘What is most important for students to learn in this class and how will I know when the learning has occurred?’ While there are many definitions used in clarifying learning objectives, the one I have found most useful comes from an expert in the corporate training world.

Mager (1997) defines a learning objective as (p 3):

… a collection of words and/or pictures & diagrams intended to let others know what you intend for your students to achieve.

It’s that time of the semester

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Get ready. It's that time of the semester. Here come the emails with requests for extra credit and explanations of how if this particular student fails your class, s/he will no longer be able to attend your university… all because of you/your class…

I encourage you to take heart, recognizing that the key learning from your course may just be to take responsibility for one's own actions and accept the consequences. Here's a quick read on the subject from The Chronicle:

http://chronicle.com/blogs/onhiring/why-do-i-have-an-f

“Part of learning to be a college student is learning to accept the consequences of your actions, especially those that hurt your grade.”

By Eliana Osborn