Doing research that involves surveys just got a bit easier for students and their advisers. Pitt students can now activate, publish, and administer Qualtrics surveys without the need for adviser approval.
However uncomfortable difficult conversations may be, avoiding them means losing potential teachable moments. Use the following seven steps to create a classroom environment that helps students develop the skills to engage in difficult conversations.
Professional development opportunities to improve your instruction are abound! In addition to in-house workshops provided by the Educational Programs, there are numerous workshops offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning. Find out where you can learn more about these opportunities.
Mind mapping tools have become all the rage thanks to their ability to engage students, encourage brainstorming and generate discussions - not to mention that most are free and easy-to-use. Find out what they are and how to implement them into your teaching. (You can also see several mind mapping tools in action at the EdTech Extravangza on October 11.)
Asking "Does anyone have any questions?" will most likely not get many students raising their hands, especially at the beginning of the semester. Most questions students have go unasked for this reason. Use this simple trick to find out what your students want to know.
It's true that most everyone is nervous at the beginning of a new semester — seasoned instructors included. Use these practical tips to help squash nervousness before your first class!
CourseWeb has some tools that make it easy for you to connect with your students whether you are on the go or at home in your pajamas. If you hate writing feedback, there is now an easy way to record audio feedback; and BlackBoard Collaborate is a brand new feature that lets you have virtual office hours.
International students might feel pressure and anxiety both in a new classroom and country. However, there are some tips on how you can help international students feel more comfortable and succeed in your class.
Transgender faculty and students face a variety of challenges in the world of education, and it is important for cisgender faculty to understand these issues and challenges. Read about how to support transgender students.
If you are interested in innovative approaches to teaching or learning how technological advancements can work in your teaching, you should stop by the Teaching Center's Open Lab!
Learn about various educational tools available for your classroom from the Emerging EdTech blog. Read more
Are you interested in improving your teaching practice, receiving professional enrichment, and gaining educational experiences designed exclusively for faculty? Consider registering for one of the five Pathways for Faculty. Read more
There are many ways to bring inclusivity into your course before you even walk through your classroom door. Read more
Technology in the classroom often leads to disengaged students, who are paying more attention to their phones or laptops than to the lecture or classroom discussion. While it may seem overwhelming and discouraging to stand in front of a room full of distracted students, there are a few ways that professors can actually use technology to connect with their students and encourage class participation. Read more
Although your course might be over, it has not yet concluded. That's because the end of the semester is the perfect time to audit your course and reflect on your teaching.
Check out this article for activity ideas to use during your last class session of the semester. There are also ideas for the first day of class, so bookmark it for the fall semester, too!
With OMET surveys available to students as of April 2, it’s time to start thinking about how to best implement this tool to get rich, meaningful feedback from students.
Revisit your exams to see if multiple choice questions are being implemented correctly. If you are unsure, be sure to sign up for the Developing and Revising Test Questions
Although collaborative work is done in groups, not all group work is collaborative. Find out more
The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) was developed by David Rose to help teachers make their course materials accessible to students with disabilities. According to the University Center for Teaching and Learning (UCTL), only 2% of the student body have registered for disabilities, while around 11% of the student population have claimed to have a disability when surveyed.
The UDL has resources to help teachers design accessible course ma...