Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching & Learning

Some students hesitate before they put their thoughts into words. Not because they have nothing to say, but because they’re afraid what they think won’t be “right.”  In my introductory music course, students write about unfamiliar pieces on day one, and for many, that unfamiliarity creates a kind of self-silencing. They listen, form impressions, even have language for what […] The post Bridging t…

Student evaluations of teaching remain one of the most widely used tools for assessing instructional effectiveness in higher education. In many institutions, standardized student evaluation forms are administered at the end of a course, and the resulting scores play a significant role in faculty promotion, tenure decisions, and annual merit reviews. While student feedback can provide valuable […]…

Student evaluations of teaching remain one of the most widely used tools for assessing instructional effectiveness in higher education. In many institutions, standardized student evaluation forms are administered at the end of a course, and the resulting scores play a significant role in faculty promotion, tenure decisions, and annual merit reviews. While student feedback can provide valuable […]…

When ChatGPT first arrived, many faculty reacted with horror. If an algorithm could write a plausible essay in seconds, what would become of higher education and philosophy, those disciplines that, at their best, are built around slow thought and crafted prose? But over the past two years, I’ve arrived at a different conclusion: the problem is not […] The post Synthetic Socrates, Teaching Assista…

When ChatGPT first arrived, many faculty reacted with horror. If an algorithm could write a plausible essay in seconds, what would become of higher education and philosophy, those disciplines that, at their best, are built around slow thought and crafted prose? But over the past two years, I’ve arrived at a different conclusion: the problem is not […] The post Synthetic Socrates, Teaching Assista…

Most people working with university students have encountered it: a student who understands the course material but performs poorly on a multiple-choice exam. If prompted, the student might explain how much they studied yet cannot understand why their hours of studying did not change their usual low grade. In many of these cases, the issue is not content knowledge but unfamiliarity with how to ap…

Most people working with university students have encountered it: a student who understands the course material but performs poorly on a multiple-choice exam. If prompted, the student might explain how much they studied yet cannot understand why their hours of studying did not change their usual low grade. In many of these cases, the issue is not content knowledge but unfamiliarity with how to ap…

Challenges to the utility of Humanities education have become louder and more frequent. The declining number of Humanities majors and the increasing number of applied or professional majors, only reinforces what some critics consider the “useless Humanities degree”, disciplines with little to recommend it in terms of workforce-ready skills. Career services on college campuses have expertise to he…

Challenges to the utility of Humanities education have become louder and more frequent. The declining number of Humanities majors and the increasing number of applied or professional majors, only reinforces what some critics consider the “useless Humanities degree”, disciplines with little to recommend it in terms of workforce-ready skills. Career services on college campuses have expertise to he…

Walk into any faculty meeting or office today and the conversation inevitably turns toward artificial intelligence (AI). Some instructors are experimenting enthusiastically, while others are cautious and perhaps even resistant. Most, however, are simply trying to figure out how to respond to this potential paradigm shift without losing what makes their teaching meaningful.  In the early iteration…

Walk into any faculty meeting or office today and the conversation inevitably turns toward artificial intelligence (AI). Some instructors are experimenting enthusiastically, while others are cautious and perhaps even resistant. Most, however, are simply trying to figure out how to respond to this potential paradigm shift without losing what makes their teaching meaningful.  In the early iteration…

Frustrated with reading countless AI-generated take-home essays and long ago disillusioned with scantrons, I plunged into oral exams this finals season. The classes were lower-division history courses: one comprised mostly of history majors, the other mostly students fulfilling a GE. Using Google Calendar, students picked half-hour time slots beginning the day after the last class and ending the …

Frustrated with reading countless AI-generated take-home essays and long ago disillusioned with scantrons, I plunged into oral exams this finals season. The classes were lower-division history courses: one comprised mostly of history majors, the other mostly students fulfilling a GE. Using Google Calendar, students picked half-hour time slots beginning the day after the last class and ending the …

Faculty across disciplines continue to experiment with new pedagogical strategies to address student engagement—flipped classrooms, active learning, flexible assessments, and modality choice. Yet many still report the same outcome: participation without ownership. Students complete tasks, but the learning often remains external—something done to them rather than something they claim.  This sugges…

Faculty across disciplines continue to experiment with new pedagogical strategies to address student engagement—flipped classrooms, active learning, flexible assessments, and modality choice. Yet many still report the same outcome: participation without ownership. Students complete tasks, but the learning often remains external—something done to them rather than something they claim.  This sugges…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize the workforce, and higher education must adapt accordingly to prepare students for an entirely new professional landscape. Corporate leaders are not shying away from the reality of this transformation. Many have begun to articulate the profound changes ahead, from evolving job functions to the automation of routine and […] The post Artificia…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize the workforce, and higher education must adapt accordingly to prepare students for an entirely new professional landscape. Corporate leaders are not shying away from the reality of this transformation. Many have begun to articulate the profound changes ahead, from evolving job functions to the automation of routine and […] The post Artificia…

According to Mather and Scheepers (2025), providing students with feedback is one of the most important aspects for teaching and learning. However, it is not uncommon for students to avoid engaging with feedback, even when instructors invest significant time in providing detailed comments. Written/typed feedback is often overlooked, underused, or misinterpreted. If feedback is essential to learni…

According to Mather and Scheepers (2025), providing students with feedback is one of the most important aspects for teaching and learning. However, it is not uncommon for students to avoid engaging with feedback, even when instructors invest significant time in providing detailed comments. Written/typed feedback is often overlooked, underused, or misinterpreted. If feedback is essential to learni…

Asynchronous online courses tend to follow a clear weekly pattern. Students often describe this structure as helpful and organized, yet they also note that the rhythm can feel a little flat. They move through the modules, complete the activities, and transition to the next week with few moments that feel spontaneous or fresh.  I wanted […] The post A Simple Weekly Question That Adds Curiosity and…