Each semester I have students complete different writing assignments in my critical thinking and writing course, including two essays: essay 1 (20%) and essay 2 (30%). In between these two…
Imagine if faculty did not design courses, select course materials, or grade student work. What role would faculty play in teaching and learning? We serve as instructors at Western Governors…
This article first appeared in the Teaching Professor on November 12, 2018. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved. Good teaching requires a special blend of the personal and the professional.…
Attributes of work environments that have the greatest influence in determining whether an environment becomes hostile or not is why an organization should start implementing the 5 Cs of Awareness (color, culture,…
In academia, we get asked a lot of questions whether we are teaching, giving research presentations, interviewing, or mentoring. This is exciting but can also be scary. The questions are…
*This article first appeared in the Teaching Professor on February 25, 2019. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved. Snapchat is a video/photo-sharing app that has become nearly ubiquitous with young…
Before the pandemic, the work-life of a teacher involved a seesaw of competing, conflicting, and contradictory demands. Not surprisingly, a number of us wished we had more time and resources…
One of the most fulfilling things I’ve done as an educator is to write my own textbook. Not just any textbook—an interactive digital textbook that encourages students to immerse themselves…
This article first appeared in The Teaching Professor on October 5, 2017. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved. I teach online at an open enrollment institution, which means I get students at…
As an increasing number of colleges and universities identify online education as a critical component to their long-term strategy, the issue of retention can no longer be ignored. It is mandatory for everyone who touches the distance learner to understand why these students leave their online courses, and what it will take to keep them there.