This week, higher ed leaders discuss how they are promoting great teaching with ACUE’s Course at ACE2017. Plus, an instructor uses a competition based on March Madness to teach students about biology.
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Prioritizing great teaching.College and university leaders shared fresh insights on how they are implementing ACUE’s Course in Effective Teaching Practices to scale effective teaching on their campuses. (The Q Blog)
Cost-effective pedagogy. The American Council on Education released a new white paper by Ithaka S+R that examines the financial benefits of improving instructional quality. (Higher Education Today)
Leadership excellence. Gail Mellow, president of LaGuardia Community College, is the winner of the 2017 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence. The award recognizes outstanding leadership on the part of a college or university president or chancellor. (Higher Education Today)
Rethinking exams. Kevin Gannon broke the exam mold he’s used since his TA days and redesigned assessments to make them more aligned to learning outcomes. (Vitae)
March Mammal Madness. Faced with distracted students during March Madness, a human evolution professor created a tournament in which students fill out brackets predicting the biological fitness of 64 animals. (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
Teaching through tears. Several instructors explain how they deal with crying students, with responses ranging from showing deep sympathy and empathy to dutifully assuming the role of the rigorous professor who holds fast to high academic standards. (Vitae)
Technology tools. These four digital platforms can help instructors design more creative lessons. (Teaching Culture)
Open pedagogy. Not only does open access provide a cheaper alternative to textbooks, but it also allows students to contribute to educational materials as opposed to merely consuming them, Robin DeRosa says. (Hybrid Pedagogy)
Uncharted territory. From controllers that enable geology students to “fly” through the earth’s layers to body sensors that allow dance students to interact with 3D models of their skeletons, virtual reality is giving instructors new ways to liven up course material. (EdSurge)
Journeys, not destinations.Education should not merely be a stepping stone to future careers; rather, college coursework and seminars should help students find their passions and encourage them to pursue meaningful work, Angel Pérez says. (The Washington Post)
