This week, digital classroom technology gathers steam in the form of focus exercises, open-source textbooks, and an all-around need for digital literacy. Meanwhile, finances—abundant or not—drive schools to experiment with new techniques for teaching effectively and improving student outcomes.
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Vanderbilt University’s Derek Bruff says teaching center directors should focus on individual faculty members while also prioritizing more systematic work. (The ‘Q’ Blog)
Inspired by her students’ questions about police shootings, a Montclair State University professor created her own course reader and is encouraging educators and students to openly discuss issues across campus. (Chronicle of Higher Education – Paywall)
Technology in the classroom can be a distraction, to the detriment of student learning, but a professor in California says videos games that incorporate meditation and exercise could improve focus. (nprEd)
A new grant program in California is making $25 million available for schools to test new approaches to improve student outcomes. (EdSurge)
ACUE is a proud sponsor of the 2016 APLU Annual Meeting, where more than 1,400 public university leaders meet and exchange ideas with colleagues from across North America. Attending? Let us know. (APLU)
With higher education facing new challenges and serving new demographics, some colleges are hoping newly appointed presidents can guide their institutions through stormy weather. (Diverse Issues in Higher Education)
With state higher education funding still $10 billion below prerecession levels, universities in hard-hit states are coping by experimenting with new income-sharing programs and increasing class sizes. (New York Times)
Tara Lifland, an instructional designer at George Washington University, offers three arguments for using open-source digital textbooks over print. (EdTech)
These fifth graders can’t vote, so they took their civic enthusiasm to a nearby campus and urged college students to get to the polls. (nprEd)
Providing students with timely feedback should be a priority for all instructors, and greater attention to digital literacy could help faculty meet this goal. (Teaching in Higher Ed)
