Best Practices - Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

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Alarmed but hopeful? What AAC&U’s new GenAI report tells us

February 3, 2026 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, News, Teaching, Technology Trends

AAC&U’s new survey, The AI Challenge: Faculty Concerns About Generative AI in Higher Education, doesn’t just measure opinions about generative AI; it captures a moment

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Save the Date! Ask the expert: Book chat with Jessamyn Neuhaus, author of Snafu Edu

January 28, 2026 Yvonne Johnson Best Practices, News, Newsletter, Teaching, Tips

Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CST Online event—registration required! The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning is delighted to continue the conversations begun during our Spring 2026

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Save the Date! Spring 2026 Presidential Teaching Seminar Featuring Dr. Mylan Engel

January 21, 2026 Yvonne Johnson Best Practices, News, Newsletter, Teaching

Thursday, March 5, 2026 Informal conversations: 11:30 a.m. Seminar: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CST Location: Holmes Student Center, Sky Room No registration is required —

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The hidden cost of catching up in STEM

January 20, 2026 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

In STEM, success is often measured by outcomes: grades, persistence, and graduation rates. When students who start with gaps in preparation ultimately perform as well

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Encouraging students to write: Strategies for building confidence and engagement

January 15, 2026 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Whether it’s a skill assessment, a midterm essay, or an end-of-semester reflection, students benefit from regular opportunities to write. These activities help them deepen their

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“Fold in the cheese” teaching: Why students need more than vague advice

January 5, 2026 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Teaching, Tips

“What does that mean, fold in the cheese?” If you’ve ever seen Schitt’s Creek, you know the scene: David and his mother Moira are trying

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Demystify the hidden curriculum of letters of recommendation

December 1, 2025 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Letters of recommendation are often the silent gatekeepers of opportunity. They can open doors to jobs, internships, scholarships, graduate programs, and professional schools. Yet, for

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Building strong collaborative learners

December 1, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

It’s natural for students to feel hesitant about working in groups—juggling communication, responsibilities, and schedules isn’t easy. Yet collaboration is a powerful skill that supports

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The superpower of faculty and instructional designers working together

December 1, 2025 Megan Holt Best Practices, Resources, Teaching

Someone said you’re an SME, but what does that even mean? In the instructional design field, our faculty are highly regarded subject matter experts (SME).

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Holding space for compassion: Trauma-informed teaching in an era of immigration crackdowns

November 4, 2025 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

As educators, we often talk about creating an effective learning environment in our classrooms—but what does that look like when students are living through trauma