by Eric Royer, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center Exams are a common way to assess and evaluate student learning. Despite this, instructors often experience a mismatch between their expectations and individual student outcomes, with some students not performing as expected or others feeling unprepared to demonstrate the type of learning that’s expected of them. This problem… Continue reading Making Exams More Meaningful for Students
The Role of Metacognition During Times of Disrupted Learning
by Eric Royer, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center The pandemic has, once again, disrupted teaching plans and learning arrangements as we embark on a new semester. Recent work has focused on the ways in which instructors can be flexible with their course designs or show more care and grace to students, but how can we assist… Continue reading The Role of Metacognition During Times of Disrupted Learning
Thinking About Rigor
by Robert Cole, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center Over the last few months as we continue to work through this pandemic, we are confronted with the question of how we can be responsive to the needs of our students while also thinking about the rigor in our courses. Both students and faculty have been under a… Continue reading Thinking About Rigor
Mission Matters Episode 21: The Reinert Center
Keeping Track of Your Course When Sick
by Christopher Grabau, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center The spread of the Omicron variant offers an important moment to consider how to prepare for when instructors get sick. Preparing in advance can minimize disruption, relieve stress (for both instructor and student), and offer calm consistency. Designing for Consistency Consider designing your course using a simple, efficient,… Continue reading Keeping Track of Your Course When Sick
Ignatian Pedagogy Is About You Too
by Gina Merys, Director, Reinert Center Thinking about Ignatian pedagogy as we begin our spring semester 2022, it is nearly impossible not to think about the current, on-going context in which we are living: the COVID pandemic, racial disparities, the climate crisis, and so many more issues and challenges that weigh heavily on us both… Continue reading Ignatian Pedagogy Is About You Too
Managing an Uncertain Start to Spring 2022
by Eric Royer, Instructional Developer The Omicron variant surging throughout the United States -- leading to a dramatic uptick in positive cases, even among fully-vaccinated individuals -- has already disrupted planning for the start of new spring semester. There may be instances where some of your students are attending virtually for the first few weeks.… Continue reading Managing an Uncertain Start to Spring 2022
Centering Trauma in Your Teaching Toolbox
by Eric Royer, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center Pandemic teaching has exposed many of us to the human and emotional dimensions of teaching. During the height of school closures and lockdowns, we witnessed, first-hand, the challenges our students’ faced when caring for sick loved ones or younger siblings, working multiple jobs to balance a job loss… Continue reading Centering Trauma in Your Teaching Toolbox
Book Recommendations: Winter Break Reading List
As the fall semester comes to an end, winter break may offer a nice opportunity to find a good book to renew thoughts about teaching and course design. Below are three lesser-known recommendations enjoyed by Reinert Center staff. Hopefully one of these may spark your interest. Power to the Public: The Promise of Public Interest… Continue reading Book Recommendations: Winter Break Reading List
The “Do Nots” of Inclusive Online Teaching
by Eric Royer, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning The Worst Lecture Ever is a faux series of 50-minute online lectures created by Lindsay Masland, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Associate Director of the Center for Academic Excellence at Appalachian State University. While the video description clearly offers… Continue reading The “Do Nots” of Inclusive Online Teaching
The Notebook 