by Nicole States, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center We live in a world that celebrates constant motion, where productivity is a badge of honor and “busy” is a personality trait. In this culture, it’s no wonder Generative AI (GenAI) feels both thrilling and threatening. For many of us, our livelihoods and everything we value about learning… Continue reading AI, Productivity, and Learning in a World That Won’t Slow Down
Category: Teaching Today’s Students
Hope and Connection: Themes from the Ignatian Pedagogy Institute
by Mitch Lorenz, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center The Reinter Center recently hosted the 2025 Ignatian Pedagogy Institute. The theme of the institute was how our courses can fulfill the Universal Apostolic Preference: “to accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future.” The quickly changing political landscape, and the recent disruptions to grant funding… Continue reading Hope and Connection: Themes from the Ignatian Pedagogy Institute
Book Review- A Light in the Tower: A New Reckoning with Mental Health in Higher Education
by Nicole States, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center Mental Health and well-being among students have been put in the spotlight since the COVID-19 lockdown. However, mental health concerns in higher education did not begin during the pandemic. Katie Rose Guest Pryal emphasizes this point in her book, A Light in the Tower: A New Reckoning with… Continue reading Book Review- A Light in the Tower: A New Reckoning with Mental Health in Higher Education
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
Supporting Neurodiversity Using UDL: An Exercise in “Where Do I Begin?”
by Mitch Lorenz, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center Winter break approaches and, with it, comes the Reinert Center’s annual Winter Institute. This half-day institute is tailored to match the Reinert Center’s annual theme. This year’s theme is “Teaching, Learning, and Neurodiversity” and the Winter Institute will focus on applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to support… Continue reading Supporting Neurodiversity Using UDL: An Exercise in “Where Do I Begin?”
Kindness at Thanksgiving
by Beth Petitjean, Ph.D., Digital Learning Specialist, Reinert Center Whew, a lot has been going on in the world and in SLU’s little corner of it this semester. It’s time for a breather and in a couple of days we’ll get one with the Thanksgiving holiday break. Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday as a… Continue reading Kindness at Thanksgiving
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
Diverse Brains in the Classroom: An Introduction to Neurodiversity
by Nicole States, Instructional Developer *a note on language: There is an ongoing discussion about whether to use person-first or identity-first language when discussing mental health and cognitive conditions. I have chosen to use identity-first language as it represents my personal stance with my neurodivergence. Studies show mixed preferences, so when speaking with or about… Continue reading Diverse Brains in the Classroom: An Introduction to Neurodiversity
Suspect the use of AI? Talk with your student.
by Robert Cole, Program Director, Reinert Center In a recent workshop I was asked about how to have a conversation with a student suspected of using generative AI to complete an assignment without permission to do so. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately as we all continue to move through this time of… Continue reading Suspect the use of AI? Talk with your student.
Reconstituting Office Hours
by Eric Royer, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center A recent article discussing office hours in the Chronicle of Higher Education had me thinking about how this dedicated time to meet with students is such a vital, yet underutilized student support in our course learning environments. Students can ask questions or talk candidly about problems affecting their… Continue reading Reconstituting Office Hours
The Notebook 