Teaching and Learning
-
Grading Without Losing your Mind (or your Student’s Respect)
Grading is one of the most stressful and time-consuming parts of teaching. The endless hours spent assessing papers and assignments often come with a mix of frustrations, exhaustion and even self-doubt. The pressure to grade fairly, efficiently and meaningfully can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s easy to feel buried under a mountain of assessments. But
-
Rethinking Assessment: Exploring Alternative Grading Practices
Alternative grading practices encompass a range of approaches designed to move beyond traditional point-based systems, fostering meaningful learning and growth. These methods reimagine how student progress is assessed, focusing on collaboration, improvement, and deeper engagement with the material. Grading for growth emphasizes ensuring students demonstrate continuous improvement and competency development throughout their learning journey. These
-
Blog, Brightspace, Digital Teaching, Faculty Notices, Learning Technologies, Professional Development, Teaching and Learning
NEW Self-Paced Course: Brightspace Basics
AVAILABLE IN THE DISCOVER AREA OF BRIGHTSPACE Make getting started in Brightspace easier! The NIC Brightspace Basics asynchronous online course provides a flexible professional learning experience specifically focused on mastering the technical intricacies of online course development within Brightspace. It equips instructors with practical insights and skills necessary to navigate the platform effectively, streamlining the
-
BCcampus Open Textbook Collection
Creating a Better User Experience for the B.C. Open Collection Link to IMPROVED BC Open Collection: https://collection.bccampus.ca/ BCcampus has created a better user experience for their fantastic open collection of teaching and learning resources. From the article intro: If you’re an educator in B.C.’s post-secondary system, chances are you’ve heard about the B.C. Open Collection,
-
Valuing the Challenge: How Desirable Difficulties Enhance Motivation and Learning
I first encountered the term “desirable difficulties” in Marsha Lovett’s (2023) book How Learning Works. I was intrigued by this seemingly contradictory statement about teaching and learning. Lovett spoke about how making learning challenging for students can be beneficial. Surely, I am not going to make learning too difficult especially in a way that is
-
Unlocking Effective and Lasting Learning Strategies
For Health and Human Services and Trades and Technical Programs Are you ready to transform your students’ learning experience? How many of your students believe learning myths, such as highlighting is the best way to learn? Or that cramming the night before a test will result in success? Cognitive psychology research suggests these methods
-
Artificial Intelligence & the 2 Sigma Problem
As artificial intelligence (AI) ramps up and we settle into a new norm of having a personal assistant for everything our lives will slowly change. What knowledge is important and valuable? What knowledge can we let die with this generation? These discussions may become commonplace as the expertise required to accomplish different tasks is slowly
-
Dead Ideas in Teaching and Learning
Dead Ideas in Teaching and Learning is a podcast hosted by Columbia University’s CTL Executive Director, Amanda Irvin. Check out the URL to see all seasons listed, summaries, transcripts and topics! Dead ideas are persistent myths about teaching and learning that instructors believe and use! Check this great podcast series out. See more recommended podcasts
-
Learning from Video: NIC’s Kaltura Platform
Video can be a very effective learning tool. Many research studies have shown its value in enhancing student learning in a variety of disciplines and delivery formats. Video created or curated by instructors can often allow students a more thorough understanding of content and concepts and engage them in more meaningful ways while learning. Students