In Canvas, “assignment” is a catch-all word for anything to be graded by the instructor—whether or not any actual assigned work is collected. Find out the basics of Canvas’s Assignments feature in this Teaching Tip.
Before diving too deeply down the rabbit hole that is the Canvas Instructor Guide, you can get your course set up started with this overview.
Reading students’ comments on official end-of-term evaluations – or worse RateMyProfessors.com – can often be painful and upsetting. So it’s no surprise faculty skim the written section and focus on the quantitative ratings. Check out this week's Teaching Tip for some suggestions for soothing the sting from those hurtful student comments.
With the unexpected shift to remote learning this spring comes several lessons learned for instructors and course developers. Read about five positive takeaways.
Avoid the rookie mistakes in online learning by incorporating some low-tech solutions. Here are five.
To create an inclusive atmosphere over online platforms like Zoom, you must be intentional. Adding some structural elements to your synchronous remote lessons can help you make the unexpected switch to online learning smoother for both you and your students and ensure that no one gets left out.
Read about some early best practices for holding a remote defense or student essay, thesis, or dissertation committee meeting.
From the University and the Center for Teaching and Learning:
1) See our new guidelines for communicating with students as classes resume.
2) Visit teaching.pitt.edu for immediate access to resources on instructional continuity in the remote environment.
3) Read the message from Provost Cudd , which contains important information about available resources, as well as information about policies and facilities, and the Provost’s mes...
The University Center for Teaching and Learning has a full knowledge base of answers to your questions. Simply select a platform or area or use the search box to find the information that you are in need of. There is also a student knowledge base that you can share with you students.
Click the headline to find 7 helpful tips for when you take your first class online.
Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) on Friday, April 3, in 548 of the William Pitt Union for the workshop, “Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Community Members.” Presented by Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, this educational opportunity for faculty and staff provides expert training in serving LGBTQ+ communities. There will be an Introductory Workshop from 11am-12pm, followed by a Skills-Based Workshop and Q&A from 12-1pm. Snacks ...
Getting students to ask questions can be like pulling teeth! Many students are unwilling or unable to ask their own questions, afraid of embarrassing themselves in front of their peers and their instructors. Find out some best practices to spark your students’ curiosity so they start asking critical questions.
The next Teaching Partners meeting is March 23 from 12-1 pm. If you are interested in learning about new developments within the Teaching Center or discussing important topics in higher education, be sure to mark your calendars! Teaching Partners is a faculty community that engages faculty who use the Teaching Center's resources to support and enhance their teaching practice. Lunch will be provided. To register, visit website (seating is limit...
Join the Center for Teaching and Learning’s Researchers’ Writing Group every Friday afternoon from 2-5 pm in Alumni Hall. This program aims to provide support and external accountability to faculty working on research. The time will be dedicated solely to research endeavors. For more information, contact Tahirah Walker at tjw88@pitt.edu or 624-6592.
With the use of social annotation platforms to read digital textbook content, students can interactively annotate and discuss the material before each class. Thus, tools and techniques to help us use these social annotation platforms, like Perusall, have never been more important to learn about and share.
Unexpected circumstances can strike at any time! Faculty may need to step away from their teaching duties before the end of a semester, leaving other faculty to finish their course with little to no preparation. In these situations, we need to be prepared with an action plan for the possibility of an emergency takeover. Keep reading to learn some tips on how to approach taking over a course midway.
SensusAccess is a file converter tool that makes inaccessible documents (such as Word and PDF files) into more accessible media (such as searchable PDFs, audio MP3 files, Braille, or e-text) and is now available to all Pitt faculty, staff, students, and alumni with an active University email address. Click on the headline to check out SensusAccess’s e-learning course.
The conclusion of your course marks the beginning of a new phase: the end of semester is the perfect time to take stock of your course and reflect on your teaching.
In an article for the Chronicle of Higher Education, Sherry Turkle argues that, in an age of multitasking, less is actually best.
Mix up your routine by adding some EdTech tools to your lessons. While downloading, learning and implementing a new app is time consuming, these two may help to identify knowledge gaps and reduce grading time.
Administering mid-term evaluations for your course is the first step to incorporating student feedback into your curricular design. Find out how to take the next steps.
A new grading software called Gradescope is now available for all Pitt faculty and students at no cost. This grading software makes administering paper-based assessments and more meaningful feedback easier for instructors. In addition to improving many traditional assessments, Gradescope also has advanced features for online student submissions and auto-grading features for computer programming assignments. Gradescope also offers LMS integration...
As student populations grow more diverse, it’s becoming increasingly important for instructors to ensure a safe space for all students. Find out how to recognize microaggressions and learn strategies for addressing the subtle messages sent that can create a feeling of marginalization among community members. By knowing what microaggressions are, the impact they have on students and learning, and how to respond to them, faculty will become more e...
As student populations grow more diverse, it’s becoming increasingly important for instructors to ensure a safe space for all students. Find out how to recognize microaggressions and learn strategies for addressing the subtle messages sent that can create a feeling of marginalization among community members. By knowing what microaggressions are, the impact they have on students and learning, and how to respond to them, faculty will become more e...
Teaching inclusively is more than just the latest trend in higher ed, it is a guiding factor for serving all students in a classroom. Making an effort to engage all the learners in your classroom does not require a total course redesign but rather a few thoughtful additions, such as: incorporating structured discussions and assignments, rethinking the percentage of certain exams or papers, or simply reminding students, “You belong here.” Read mo...