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
For some of us, it takes some time to get into the swing of summer. Some of us only finished our academic years mid-June. Others immediately attended conferences or workshops. Every year, I look at the months of summer looming ahead and map out all
On a recent walk across campus, I ran into a student who had taken my class last year. She is Latina and a first-generation student who I remembered being politically outspoken in class and a fierce advocate for immigrant rights. I asked how she was
The asynchronous nature of online learning makes it hard for students to develop a structured schedule since they lack the built-in class times of traditional courses. Additionally, online education attracts many nontraditional adult learners who juggle numerous responsibilities, further straining their schedules.
During my third year of college, another student that many of my friends interacted with, who tutored some of us, died. While I wouldn’t call him a close friend, he was an acquaintance, and his loss was felt deeply. I remember wanting to cry, but
Instructors in face-to-face courses can roughly gauge how well students understand the material by facial expressions and audience response systems. This immediate and informal feedback enables them to adjust their teaching in real-time. But this is not the case in asynchronous courses. Students have to
This semester I am teaching an undergraduate biology course on biofeedback, self-regulation, and intergenerational resilience. One of the books we read is Robert M. Sapolsky’s Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. The book’s thesis is that humans experience chronic stress in ways that animals like zebras
“When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You),” first published in 1928 by Shay, Fischer, and Goodwin, has been recorded by many artists. My favorite is the 1929 version by Louis Armstrong. “Oh, when you smilin’, when you smilin’, the whole world smiles with
I recently met with my summer research students to discuss their project findings. During our check-in, nearly every student expressed anxiety about the upcoming semester and how worried they were about deadlines and exams and becoming overwhelmed quickly. Their unease resonated with me deeply; I
A few years ago, while reviewing a student’s feedback on one of my course evaluations, I came across a profound observation. The student described the class, like many science courses, as “stoic,” yearning for more humanity in the learning experience. It struck a chord with
