Exercise Can Be a Study Strategy Faculty and students alike may be exhausted at this point in the semester. It’s common to experience a mid-semester slump, which can be worse for people experiencing ongoing pandemic-related stress. We can all benefit from breaks, physical activity, and a change of scenery, so even when we’re busy, no […]

Building Knowledge at the Beginning of Class When designing our courses, most of us sequence the topics, assignments, and activities to build on one another. This approach tends to work well because our courses are also a series of experiences through which students construct knowledge and develop skills over time. Between class meetings, though, students […]

So You Collected Midsemester Feedback. Now What? Last week, we suggested collecting midsemester feedback from students, to check in on how things are going for them so far this term. By the time we typically get their feedback, on our course evaluations, it’s too late to incorporate their suggestions or address their concerns. Surveying them […]

Midsemester Feedback with a Focus Around this time each term, we suggest gathering feedback on how the course is going for students so far. Checking in with them at midsemester (or at several points) is much more helpful than waiting until the end of the term because there’s still time to use what they say […]

Exam Wrappers After students have taken an exam, they usually focus on their grade and how it will factor into their final grade in the course. This focus on scores is understandable, considering the powerful impact of grades on students’ academic progress, financial aid, future goals, and even self-perceptions. But this focus doesn’t help students […]