Faculty training in higher education often emphasizes verbal participation as the primary indicator of student engagement. In graduate preparation, instructors learn to value quick interaction, frequent discussion, and other visible forms of participation. An “active” classroom commonly means one in which students speak often. Over
When I talk with my students about navigating difficult conversations, I don’t begin with a slide deck or a list of ground rules. I begin with a story.
College classrooms today include students from various backgrounds and experiences. The different experiences of students can create challenges when trying to encourage discussion and participation, especially related to topics of politics, history, identity, and equity. But creating a culture of empathy and respect can support
“Focus on what you can control” is hardly groundbreaking advice. Yet when I read David Gooblar’s version of it this August in One Classroom at a Time: How Better Teaching Can Make College More Equitable (Harvard UP, 2025), it felt newly persuasive: “[Professors] cannot control
When generative AI (GenAI) appeared on the higher education landscape, the general reaction ranged from enthusiasm and curiosity to grave concern around how a technology that was not designed for education would impact our lives as educators and the lives of learners. The uncertainty educators
Why do students come to class? We may hope it’s for the love of learning, because of our inspirational teaching, or because they know it will help them get jobs or live happier lives in the long run. Of course, these are not the common
Facilitating experiential learning is central to my teaching philosophy. As an instructor of application-based coursework, I continually seek ways to help students engage deeply with course material and explore practical avenues for applying it within their field of study. Research has shown that application-based and
Few roles in higher education have transformed as dramatically as that of the academic advisor. Historically, advisors were often behind-the-scenes figures signing special permission forms that students submitted and retrieved through administrative assistants, with little direct contact or guidance. Today, advising has become deeply integrated
Trauma is an invisible backpack that accompanies students into the college classroom. This backpack may carry a history of abuse, exposure to violence, racial trauma, neglect, family loss, experience as a refugee, or survival from a natural disaster. Yet we often expect students to be
Building rapport with students from the very first day of class is a cornerstone of effective teaching, and a fundamental, yet often overlooked, step in this process is learning their names immediately. While it might seem like a minor detail amid the hustle and bustle
