At some point–even prior to the start of COVID-19–most online instructors have relied on the ‘Post Once, Reply Twice’ formula for their online discussions. It is unclear where this formula originated, but like the Pot Roast Principle, there is no real reason we need to be bound by it. Discussions remain a pain point for … Continue reading Post Once, Reply Twice… But Why?
In January 2021, my husband and I bought a messy piece of land in Michigan. Some of the land is (barely) tillable farmland, and the other parts are weedy prairie, scrubby forest, and swampy muck. This is what we wanted—a biodiverse piece of land that needs support to bring it back to its natural, harmonious … Continue reading Identifying our “Oak Savanna”: How HEERF Funds Helped to Regenerate an ID Team Battered by the Pandemic
Authors Kyle Grice and Margaret Bell Our faculty learning community (FLC) generated some big ideas to make STEM classrooms more equitable. Below are some big ideas to make STEM classrooms more equitable; we give a brief orientation to the concepts, with links to additional resources, and potential next steps. Of course, this is only a … Continue reading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Foundational STEM courses Curated Resources and Action Items
Traditionally, Colombia celebrates Chemist’s Day (El día del Químico) every year on October 31st. The Colombian Council of Professional Chemists organizes events or meetings to help celebrate the day (https://cpqcol.gov.co/eventos/dia-del-quimico/). In short, today is certainly a big day for chemists around the world, but especially in my home country, Colombia. On account of this day, … Continue reading Chemistry and Diversity & Inclusion at DePaul University: A Metaphor
If you aren’t an ardent follower of the maker movement, or involved in it yourself, you might have missed the hype about 3D printing. 3D printing has grown from a niche market for creating small prototypes or parts into a multi-billion dollar business spanning industries from medicine to even residential home construction. Supporters of 3D … Continue reading What a 3D Printer Taught Me About Learning
Learning the names of your students is often cited as a simple way to create an inclusive environment in your classroom. It shows your students you care and helps to foster a sense of community. Furthermore, researchers have found that students have a more positive attitude about a course if they perceive that the instructor … Continue reading 3 Simple Ways to Learn Your Students’ Names
Like any mom of teens, I am trying to pull my 13-year-old son away from his game console and get him to try something that I think would benefit him for his growth—something like reading! “But books are history,” Grant claimed. “And this…” he tilted his head toward the screen with his hands still fixated … Continue reading Preparing for the Future When the Virtual is so Real
While I’ll beg your forgiveness for the obvious hype-train connection in my title to the release of the film READY PLAYER ONE, the film does raise many questions about the future of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). For me, this question often comes up in the context of VR and AR in education, … Continue reading READY STUDENT ONE? Risks and Rewards of VR and AR in the College Classroom
In the field of coaching there is more and more research that shows that when an athlete is in an environment where they feel supported and where they are having fun, skill acquisition comes more easily (for an interesting talk on this, listen to this podcast from Olympic coaching educator Wayne Goldsmith). This is not to … Continue reading Importance of Play in Skill Acquisition
“What if they find out who I really am?” Every quarter, I meet a new group of (mostly) freshmen students in my First Year Writing courses, and every quarter, there’s one conversation I can’t wait to have. I always make sure that we have a discussion of “Discourse Communities” and what it means to become … Continue reading Imposter Syndrome, Creation and Negotiation of Identity, and Freshman Fear of Failing