The syllabus—most of us use them, many of our students don’t read them. We wondered if this venerable artifact of teaching might merit a revisit. So, last fall we…
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A Look Inside the Teaching Professor Collections
November 29, 2019 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
Most of us teaching at the college level like to read. We read professional materials, and we read for pleasure. We know firsthand that much about teaching can be…
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In Effective Classroom Management
First Day of Class Activities that Create a Climate for Learning
September 6, 2019 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
There’s no discounting the importance of the first day of class. What happens that day sets the tone for the rest of the course. Outlined below are a few…
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A Memo to Students: College and the Real World
August 30, 2019 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
To: My Students From: Your Teacher Re: What’s happening in college—is it real? I just read about a senior engineering student who was presenting a design project in an…
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In Effective Classroom Management
Rights and Responsibilities for Group Members
June 28, 2019 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
I recently revisited something I’ve always considered a great resource. It originally appeared in a 1992 issue of the Teaching Professor and was published then as a Study Group…
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In Effective Teaching Strategies
Learner-Centered Teaching: 10 Ideas for Getting Started
May 1, 2019 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
Looking to incorporate some learner-centered teaching principles into your courses but aren’t sure where to begin? Here are 10 activities for building student engagement and getting students more actively…
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In Effective Teaching Strategies
Taking Notes on the Reading
February 22, 2019 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
Every course has assignments, but do they get the attention they deserve or do the same versions end up in the syllabus year after year? How much variety is…
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Office Hours Alternative Resonates with Students
February 15, 2019 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
Faculty regularly face the problem of getting the students most in need of help to come to the office for help. Not only do a small number of students…
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Test Questions
October 23, 2018 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
It’s good to regularly review the advantages and disadvantages of the most commonly used test questions and the test banks that now frequently provide them.
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What Are We Communicating to Students When We Write?
September 18, 2018 Maryellen Weimer, PhD
Do we communicate more with students in writing than we used to? I think so. In addition to the course syllabus, the usual handouts, and written feedback on papers,…