Notes on Teaching and Learning

Are you interested in incorporating active learning activities in the classroom? Do you want to promote critical thinking and problem solving skills? You may want to consider Inquiry Based Learning! What is Inquiry Based Learning? In this experiential teaching method, the instructor facilitates learning though student problem solving. A lecture could be used to pose […]

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Psychologists have identified two distinct forms of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic.  Intrinsic motivation refers to an inherent interest in pursing a topic (“learning for learning’s sake”).  These individuals find a subject enjoyable and they naturally desire to learn mastery of it.   Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, refers to a desire to pursue a subject […]

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With the semester half over, many students may be experiencing the dreaded mid-semester slump.  However, there are tons of great activities you, as the instructor, can incorporate into your classroom to pull students back in.  In Teaching What You Don’t Know, Therese Huston notes multiple wonderful activities that instructors can have on-hand to nip lackluster […]

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This Fall Break, take a BREAK and FALL into a good book!  What better way to spend Fall Break than with one of the many books on teaching and learning from the Kaneb Center’s extensive library?  If you have a specific pedagogical question, we can also help guide you to some helpful selections. Beyond brushing up […]

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With midterm exams just around the corner, it is important to begin thinking about test construction.  Regardless of question format (multiple choice, short answer, essay, etc.), the best tests are constructed using “backwards design.”  This assessment philosophy is driven by well-developed learning goals/objectives (for either a teaching unit, course, or program) that state with clarity […]

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Were you unable to attend the faculty panel on different types of institutions? Don’t worry! Check out the workshop recap below: Panelists: Cassie Majetic, Assistant Professor of Biology at St. Mary’s Kelcey Parker, Associate Professor of English at Indiana University South Bend Zachary Schultz, Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Notre […]

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The following entry from the 2014-2015 Teaching Issues Writing Consortium: Teaching Tips was contributed by Claudia J. Stanny, Ph.D., Director Center for University Teaching, Learning, and Assessment University of West Florida ————————————————————————————————————– When we think about how to motivate students, we might assume our students will be motivated by the same goals and values that motivated […]

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Believe it or not, we are starting the fifth week of the semester. As paper deadlines approach, it is a good time to plan activities that help students improve their writing. One option is to hold a peer review session in class.  This is a great opportunity for students to improve their written assignments while also […]

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Writing the teaching philosophy statement is often one of the most dreaded aspects of the academic job search.  However, with increased understanding of what makes a strong document, the writing process becomes much easier.  Below is an excerpt from an exemplary teaching philosophy statement, written by Dr. Joshua Enzer, a former graduate student in chemical […]

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Did you know Notre Dame has numerous helpful teaching resources available to you?  Here are some worth exploring: NspireD2:  This blog run by the Kaneb Center’s Assistant Director, Chris Clark, is here to help you explore new ways of incorporating technology into teaching and learning.  If you’d love for posts to come right to your […]

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