Samantha Garcia, MPH, CHES, Program in Public Health Summative assessments are assessments that provide evidence of students’ cumulative knowledge learned throughout a course.1 While it is essential for students to master course content and build a foundation in that...
Course design
Using Exams as a Learning Experience
Christian Glaser, PhD, Department of Physics and Astronomy Traditionally, exams test students’ knowledge at a certain point in time. They are not intended for the students to learn anything but to show what they know. But what if exams can be turned into a valuable...
Teaching the Language of Science
Lorrayne A. Serra, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology Reading and the Language of Science Learning science is directly related to understanding the language of science. At first, learning a language is challenging, but if the appropriate tools are provided,...
5 Tips for Providing Feedback in Large Online Courses
Daniel Relihan, MA, Department of Psychological Science Online college and university courses have become increasingly common over the past decade. One reason for this increase is because online courses are cost effective for universities. For instance, they allow...
Applying Best Practices to Online Classrooms
Colin McLaughlin-Alcock, Department of Anthropology Educators are increasingly recognizing the value of active learning and other best practice strategies which allow students to take ownership of their own education. One domain which remains resistant to active...
Service-learning: Teaching Criminology Beyond the Classroom
Gabriela Gonzalez, Department of Criminology, Law, & Society Making a Murderer, The Keepers, Mindhunter, Criminal Minds, How to Get Away with Murder. One need only flip open their laptop to get a glimpse of society’s obsession with true crime and crime drama. This...
Making a Large Class Small
Alessandra C. Martini, Ph.D, UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders There’s a unique set of challenges that can reduce student learning and exhaust faculty members teaching large-enrollment courses. Among so many people, it is easy for...
In with the Good and Out with the Bad: Promoting Healthy Stress in Class
Alicia Hoffman, Department of Chemistry Stress is correlated with both improved and diminished academic achievement. Students are successful when there is a drive to attain high standards, but too much stress negatively impacts learning and memory and increases...