“Let’s pretend,” I said, pointing toward the back row, “that Macbeth’s enemy is way across the battlefield, back by Jon.” I moved down the aisle, reciting Shakespeare’s language. “Like valour’s minion carved out his passage—till he faced . . .”—then gestured in the same direction
Every time a student submits work that doesn’t reflect what you know about them, you face the same impossible task: proving something that was designed to be unprovable. AI detection tools offer a number, not an answer. Formal academic integrity processes demand evidence that, in
Moving beyond standard instructional practices is a necessity in today’s diverse classrooms. Faculty are tasked with creating educational spaces that not only meet the varied learning needs of their students but also leverage their backgrounds. The good news? Effective models already exist.
During a recent interview for a longitudinal study on undergraduate writing and learning that I am conducting at my school, one student described a course he was currently taking with a professor he admired deeply. He spoke warmly about the instructor’s passion, clarity, and care
I sidestepped the question for years.
Two of my past articles for The Teaching Professor describe different types of educational “moments”: teaching moments and critical moments. Although I have been in the classroom for nearly 35 years, I continue to seek out strategies, like these moments, to fine-tune my teaching. In
A hot moment is one of those classroom situations where you can feel the temperature shift. Someone makes a comment that lands wrong. Discussion gets charged. A student reacts—verbally or visibly—and suddenly the room isn’t about the lesson anymore. It’s about safety, power, and whether
Faculty training in higher education often emphasizes verbal participation as the primary indicator of student engagement. In graduate preparation, instructors learn to value quick interaction, frequent discussion, and other visible forms of participation. An “active” classroom commonly means one in which students speak often. Over
When I talk with my students about navigating difficult conversations, I don’t begin with a slide deck or a list of ground rules. I begin with a story.
College classrooms today include students from various backgrounds and experiences. The different experiences of students can create challenges when trying to encourage discussion and participation, especially related to topics of politics, history, identity, and equity. But creating a culture of empathy and respect can support
