News

CITL Teaching and Learning News: October 21, 2021

Oct 21, 2021, 15:35 PM
 
Click here to see this online
 
 
 
 

Announcements

 
 

Next Art of Teaching Seminar is Nov. 4th: Balancing Freedom and Guidance with 'Yes' Spaces in STEM Classrooms

Join us online for the next Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar on November 4 (12-1pm). Katie Ansell (Physics) will discuss her approach to managing the challenge of teaching established concepts and procedures while supporting student agency and creativity. While it’s often easier to just tell students what to do, Katie has been exploring methods for turning the classroom into a ‘Yes’ space, and this has had a powerful impact on student engagement and achievement. Don’t miss this exciting discussion of new research on teaching and learning. Register for zoom link.

Move to Canvas Week Coming in November

To assist everyone planning to move to Canvas for Spring 2022, the Canvas Training Working Group is offering three opportunities for intensive training over the next several months. During each four-day event, we'll be offering a variety of flexible options to provide the support you need for a successful move to Canvas. Join us for one session, or take advantage of the full suite of support, whatever you need to get your Canvas course ready for Spring.

The full schedule of events will be available soon. Self-enroll in this Canvas course to receive announcements and updates.

Did You Miss the Playful by Design Symposium?

The Playful by Design Fall Symposium took place last week at the Siebel Center for Design, but you can view recordings from many of the events. Of particular interest may be the Day 2 Lightning Round Panel Presentations on a variety of topics pertaining to games and learning, teaching game design, and games research. You can view these at the Playful by Design YouTube Channel. The Symposium is supported by an Investment for Growth Grant awarded to Games@Illinois which recently established a new Game Studies Minor in the iSchool. Become part of this new and exciting community of faculty and staff who are teaching and learning with games. More info at: https://www.facebook.com/PbD.UIUC/

List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students

The final versions of both the Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students are now available at go.illinois.edu/lotrae.

 
 

CITL Events & Workshops

 
 
Tuesday, October 26
Innovation Studio Open hours
10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M., CITL Innovation Studio Armory Room 172, repeats every Tuesday
Host: Jamie Nelson
 
Wednesday, October 27
Canvas Open Office Hours
1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M., online via Zoom, view calendar entry for Zoom link, repeats every Wednesday
Host: CITL Instructional Support
 
Thursday, October 28
The Power of Presentations: Enhancing Your Slides for Teaching and Engagement
10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M., online via Zoom, register for Zoom link
Presenter: Jamie Nelson
 
Monday, November 8
Building Courses in Canvas
3:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M., online via Zoom, register for Zoom link
Presenter: Canvas Training Working Group
 
Check the CITL calendar for new workshops added regularly, and for a complete listing of all our Canvas training and support opportunities.
 
 

Teaching Tips

 
 

The Art of Cold Calling

(from Harvard University: The Christensen Center for Teaching & Learning) If you are looking to better engage students in the classroom, cold calling can be a great way to spark discussion and foster an inclusionary environment. Yes, this method can be used to set the tone for class expectations, but it isn’t about shaming the unprepared. Done right, cold calling can serve up meaningful dialogue while also allowing a variety of students a chance to contribute, whether it’s by offering a deserving nod to an oft-prepared student or highlighting another’s expertise and background. Unsure how to properly use cold calling in your classroom? Let’s explore the why, who, and how.

Strategies for Preventing Student Resistance

(from Faculty Focus) When teachers try something different in the classroom and students resist, the teacher may back down. Often, this is due to fear of what will happen to their student evaluations and contract renewals. There is little doubt that the potential for student resistance in response to attempting a new teaching strategy is a widespread fear of many instructors. Even the rumor that another instructor who tried innovative approaches may have experienced student resistance could be enough to deter instructors from ever trying these teaching methods themselves.

While addressing student resistance in a classroom when it arises is no doubt a key concern for many instructors, preventing student resistance altogether would seem to be the ultimate goal. Here are several such teaching strategies, connected where possible to the research literatures.

See More Teaching Tips Here

 
 
footer logo