Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art is of ending.” Faculty members practice this “art of ending” every semester as they conclude the courses they teach. Like the finish line of a race, the last day of
Curricula evolve. Disciplines shift. Programs respond to changing professional expectations and emerging competencies. In higher education, we give much attention to launching new courses and revising degree requirements. Far less attention is given to the other side of the process: how to conclude a course
Do a little recon when courses begin next semester. Is there an empty classroom nearby? That vacant space is pure pedagogical potential, and it’s a shame to let it sit unused. Here are five ways that I use that spare room to level up my
Many of us worry that generative AI will do students’ thinking for them. But what if the process of generating AI content—in this case, an image—actually forces a deeper level of critical analysis? To facilitate critical thinking skills about AI, we designed an assignment that
Last year I added an assignment to an online aging and end-of-life transitions course I had taught multiple times. The assignment, which became the first in the course, used one of my favorite research methods, Photovoice. This process, developed by Caroline Wang and Mary Ann
When Kahlil Gibran speaks about pain, he likens it to medicine and connects healing to understanding. The understanding is of the self and its relation to the larger order of things. When I think of his use of the word shell, two things come to
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One of my favorite assignments is having students discuss the role of belief in day-to-day life. What we believe influences our behavior in many ways. If you believe God exists, you’ll act in a certain way. Likewise, if you believe there’s a devil. While I
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
Can you work when you’re being watched? In the 1920s, workers at the Hawthorne Works plant in Cicero, Illinois, took part in a novel study of productivity. To change habits in the workplace, researchers decided to give them more light. Researchers changed the light bulbs
