Best Practices - Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

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What if student evaluations measured what actually matters?

March 27, 2025 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Newsletter, Resources, Teaching

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are a staple in higher education, but what do they really tell us? Research shows that evaluations can be biased,

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Mind the gap: Tips and tools for supporting neurodiverse learners

February 25, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Newsletter, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Everyone’s brain works differently; so, what works for one may not work for another. The diversity in how brains function—known as neurodiversity—can affect the way

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Embracing cultural wealth as a path to Black student success in STEM

January 24, 2025 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

The persistent underrepresentation of Black students in STEM fields has long been viewed through a deficit lens, focusing on barriers and challenges rather than strengths

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Start the semester strong: Strategies for getting to know your students (and why it matters)

January 9, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

At the beginning of the semester, it can be difficult to learn students’ names, pronouns, experiences, and needs. Getting to know your students at the

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Resilient teaching: Making the most of what you have

January 7, 2025 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Let’s face it—last-minute teaching schedule changes or unexpected course additions can throw even the most seasoned educators into a tailspin. You’ve carefully mapped out your

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AI detectors: An ethical minefield

December 12, 2024 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends, Tips, Web Tools

Generative AI use has been on the rise among faculty and students. Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Adobe Firefly, and Claude, among others, have transformed how

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The digital red pen: Efficiency, ethics, and AI-assisted grading

October 29, 2024 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends

Podcast-style Audio Overview (Created with NotebookLM) It’s late in the evening, and faculty across the country are still grading papers, leaving feedback that they hope

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Open minds, open dialogue: Navigating ideological differences on campus

October 9, 2024 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips, Workshops

In today’s polarized academic environment, college campuses and classrooms can sometimes feel like battlegrounds of ideas rather than spaces for growth. How do we, as

Diverse group of students gathered in a classroom, passionately engaging in lively discussions.

Facilitating politically-charged conversations in the classroom

October 4, 2024 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Facilitating meaningful class discussions can be challenging, especially when it comes to political topics. Many public schools avoid subjects like oppression, race, and LGBTQ+ rights,

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Culturally Responsive Teaching

August 6, 2024 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

During the early development of higher education in the United States, women were largely excluded from attending colleges and universities. Additionally, African American people were

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The importance of names

July 24, 2024 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching

By Lindsay Vreeland and Kevin Harris Learning student names and pronouncing them correctly is an important step in helping students feel recognized as individuals and

Personalized AI tutoring as a social activity: Paradox or possibility?

June 27, 2024 CITL Best Practices, Resources, Tips

Can the paradox between individual tutoring and social learning be reconciled though the possibility of AI? By Ron Owston | June 12, 2024 EDUCAUSE Review