Classroom Activities, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Engaging All Learners, Inclusive Teaching, Practical Strategies, Teaching and Justice, Teaching Today's Students, Tips on Teaching

Teaching Authentically: Strategies to Remain Present in Uncertain Times

by Christopher Grabau, Program Director, Reinert Center Educators in higher education are navigating an increasingly complex landscape, where faculty and graduate student instructors must balance demands ranging from maintaining academic integrity and designing effective assessments, to fostering meaningful student engagement.  These challenges are compounded by broader societal stresses and uncertainties, which affect both students and… Continue reading Teaching Authentically: Strategies to Remain Present in Uncertain Times

Culturally Responsive Teaching, Practical Strategies, Teaching and Justice, Teaching Today's Students, Tips on Teaching, Transformative Learning

Preparing for Election-Related Discussions in the Classroom

by Christopher Grabau, Program Director, Reinert Center Political and global affairs often enter our learning spaces.  While these discussions can be challenging to navigate, they offer a unique opportunity to engage with and develop critical reflection.  As we anticipate potentially challenging but crucial conversations in the classroom, it's essential to approach these moments with intentionality… Continue reading Preparing for Election-Related Discussions in the Classroom

Teaching and Justice, Teaching Today's Students, Tips on Teaching

Bursting the Busywork Bubble

by Robert Cole, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center Well, it’s that time of year. As we move closer to graduation we are administering and grading exams, final projects and presentations. We will also soon receive notification that our course evaluations are available. Course evaluations often provide an opportunity to take stock and identify if changes need… Continue reading Bursting the Busywork Bubble

Teaching and Justice, Teaching Today's Students

New Resource Guide

The Reinert Center has created a new Resource Guide to help faculty when drafting recommendation letters.  The guide offers a few framing thoughts as well as a strategies to help faculty work against implicit bias and stereotypes when writing letters for students. Avoiding Racial and Gender Bias When Writing Recommendation Letters Although the guide is… Continue reading New Resource Guide

Teaching and Justice, Tips on Teaching

Wise feedback to reduce stereotype threat and to support your classroom community

by Christopher Grabau, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center Offering constructive feedback on student performance can offer important opportunities for social and intellectual development.  However, research has found that students do not always understand how teachers critique their work and may misconstrue comments as overly negative.  This misunderstanding can reinforce negative stereotypes and undermine teacher/student trust.  Wise… Continue reading Wise feedback to reduce stereotype threat and to support your classroom community

Teaching and Justice, Teaching with Technology, Tips on Teaching

Navigating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom

by Eric Royer, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning My disciplinary research and teaching area of expertise is in human rights and post-conflict transitions. Students in my classes are often exposed to genocides and mass killings, humanitarian crises, and child trafficking rings linked to conflict minerals. These topics, as well as the… Continue reading Navigating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom

Inclusive Teaching, Resources, Teaching and Justice

Three resources to help reflect on anti-racist teaching and course design

by Christopher Grabau, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center As we continue to strive to create ways to be a more equitable learning community, a growing number of educational resources to support anti-racism are available.  Admittingly the volumes of resources, guides, and books available can be a bit daunting; however, listed below are three brief resources to… Continue reading Three resources to help reflect on anti-racist teaching and course design

Inclusive Teaching, Jesuit/Ignatian, Teaching and Justice

Shocking the System: Why Talk about Race in the Classroom?

by Elisabeth Hedrick-Moser, Instructional Consultant, Reinert Center Recent waves of violence against black lives and a rising tide of protest have raised cultural awareness of the depth of systemic racism. Many educators are pondering whether or how to acknowledge this cultural upheaval in the classroom. Some may feel that, although racism is a problem in… Continue reading Shocking the System: Why Talk about Race in the Classroom?

Teaching and Justice

Title IX at SLU: How We Support Students

by Anna R. Kratky, SLU Title IX Coordinator When students are asked what words come to mind when thinking about Title IX, the most common responses are sexual assault and equality. When faculty are asked that same question, the answers are usually mandatory reporting and legal obligations. This highlights the progress the Office of Institutional… Continue reading Title IX at SLU: How We Support Students