June 2007

Are You as Good a Teacher as You Think?
Now’s there’s an article title that gets your attention…at least it got mine. The article that follows this title (reference below) is a bit depressing, but the points it makes do constitute worthwhile reminders. The author offers three reasons why teachers might not be as good as they think.

Synchronous Instruction—More Than Text Chat
Increasingly sophisticated e-conferencing tools and the growing availability of high-speed Internet access are making synchronous online learning an attractive option for many instructors. But as with any new technology, it’s important to consider how synchronous instruction might best be used to enhance the learning experience.

Encouraging Faculty Involvement in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Despite the admirable goal of improving student learning by assessment, many faculty members are uneasy about participating in assessment-related activities. They resent having assessment mandates imposed on them by administrators and fear that opening their courses to public scrutiny might negatively reflect on them personally. One way to overcome these negative feelings about assessment while promoting improved student learning is to encourage faculty to engage in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).

Take the Poll!
Last month Last month's question was "What is your top concern about teaching online?"