Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching & Learning

Graduate and professional students who aspire to academic careers often tell mentors that they are eager to teach but unsure how to gain experience or show it on a CV or dossier. Because TA opportunities vary across programs and budget cycles, departments and teaching centers can create equitable on-ramps by structuring small, credible experiences that convert directly into evidence. With […] The…

Future-ready skills refer to personal, social, and cognitive abilities that enable students to interact effectively with others and navigate real-world situations. Unlike academic or technical knowledge, these skills focus on how students communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and manage their emotions.  For students, developing these skills is an important part of becoming independent and res…

Future-ready skills refer to personal, social, and cognitive abilities that enable students to interact effectively with others and navigate real-world situations. Unlike academic or technical knowledge, these skills focus on how students communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and manage their emotions.  For students, developing these skills is an important part of becoming independent and res…

Most people have their own idea about what distance education is. Usually, people understand it to be a way of teaching that is characterized by using technology and the separation of the teacher from the learner. This separation poses specific challenges that are often absent in face-to-face learning environments. Adair and Diaz (2014, 12) point out that “Because learner support provides […] The…

Most people have their own idea about what distance education is. Usually, people understand it to be a way of teaching that is characterized by using technology and the separation of the teacher from the learner. This separation poses specific challenges that are often absent in face-to-face learning environments. Adair and Diaz (2014, 12) point out that “Because learner support provides […] The…

Colleges and universities across the country are moving quickly to embrace artificial intelligence. According to an analysis of sixty-five R1 institutions, 63 percent of them actively encourage the use of generative AI, with many publishing detailed guidance for its classroom integration (McDonald et al., 2025). The implicit promise is that AI will sharpen student thinking, personalize learning, …

Colleges and universities across the country are moving quickly to embrace artificial intelligence. According to an analysis of sixty-five R1 institutions, 63 percent of them actively encourage the use of generative AI, with many publishing detailed guidance for its classroom integration (McDonald et al., 2025). The implicit promise is that AI will sharpen student thinking, personalize learning, …

Saying “I don’t know” feels like a flaw. It’s one of the smartest moves a person can make.  In education, there is an unwritten expectation that to be in the profession is to know things, know them well, and at the drop of a hat.  For a teacher it’s daunting to stand in front of 30+ students, each staring expectantly at you, waiting for your words […] The post Where to Go From “I Don’t Know”: Bui…

Saying “I don’t know” feels like a flaw. It’s one of the smartest moves a person can make.  In education, there is an unwritten expectation that to be in the profession is to know things, know them well, and at the drop of a hat.  For a teacher it’s daunting to stand in front of 30+ students, each staring expectantly at you, waiting for your words […] The post Where to Go From “I Don’t Know”: Bui…

A 2025 survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that 92% of university students now use AI tools in their studies, up from 66% the previous year (Freeman 2025). For online educators, the question has shifted from whether to allow AI to how to design courses that encourage deep learning, no matter AI’s role. The strategies that follow, based on […] The post From Restriction to Integra…

A 2025 survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that 92% of university students now use AI tools in their studies, up from 66% the previous year (Freeman 2025). For online educators, the question has shifted from whether to allow AI to how to design courses that encourage deep learning, no matter AI’s role. The strategies that follow, based on […] The post From Restriction to Integra…

Let’s consider how much time you dedicate to information gathering each day. We scroll through items we consider necessary or important – the perception of “not knowing” is a powerful motivator. It sparks curiosity and prompts us to fill the knowledge gap. This process isn’t just mechanical in nature; it is accompanied by a sense of excitement and accomplishment. The […] The post Fueling a Love o…

Let’s consider how much time you dedicate to information gathering each day. We scroll through items we consider necessary or important – the perception of “not knowing” is a powerful motivator. It sparks curiosity and prompts us to fill the knowledge gap. This process isn’t just mechanical in nature; it is accompanied by a sense of excitement and accomplishment. The […] The post Fueling a Love o…

Have you recently been asked to review a resume? Do you coach learners on resume writing? When did you last update your own resume?   The word “résumé” originates from the French word résumer, meaning “to summarize” (Burdick, 2023). It is a single document that could be the difference between landing an interview or missing an opportunity. Whether or not it’s the most effective way to hire strong…

Have you recently been asked to review a resume? Do you coach learners on resume writing? When did you last update your own resume?   The word “résumé” originates from the French word résumer, meaning “to summarize” (Burdick, 2023). It is a single document that could be the difference between landing an interview or missing an opportunity. Whether or not it’s the most effective way to hire strong…

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are one of the most widely used tools for assessing teaching effectiveness and play a significant role in decisions related to promotion, tenure, contract renewal, and merit-based pay. Despite their widespread use, a growing body of research suggests that SETs often measure students’ perceptions and emotional responses rather than the quality of course desig…

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are one of the most widely used tools for assessing teaching effectiveness and play a significant role in decisions related to promotion, tenure, contract renewal, and merit-based pay. Despite their widespread use, a growing body of research suggests that SETs often measure students’ perceptions and emotional responses rather than the quality of course desig…

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…

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 […]…