A faculty driven blog that tackles topics related to instruction at Dornsife. For comments, feedback and suggestions, please email: teachon@dornsife.usc.edu
A Return to Campus
Coming back for in-person office hours, changes to campus and anticipating a fuller return in the fall
Ben Pack – May 31, 2021
What We’ll Take With Us
Five lessons from remote instruction
Amber Foster – May 25, 2021
The Bump that No One Saw
How my newborn helped me create realistic scenarios in the COVID-era class
Shannon Gibson – May 17, 2021
Reflective Writing for Online or Face-to-Face Instruction
The Pedagogy of “Learning How to Learn”
Amber Foster – April 27, 2021
Professionalism
Helping students enter the working world
Ben Pack – April 20, 2021
Class Culture, Online and in Person
Practices to consider when cultivating class culture
Ben Pack – April 14, 2021
What to do about Labs? – Part IV
Kitchen Chemistry: Science with the material they have at home
Jessica Parr April 12, 2021
What to do about Labs? – Part III
At home lab kits
Jessica Parr – April 9, 2021
What to do about Labs? – Part II
Commercial Virtual Labs
Jessica Parr – April 7, 2021
What to do about Labs? – Part I
Virtual Labs
Jessica Parr – April 5, 2021
Weekly Blackboard Quizzes
They’re not just for keeping students on track
Shannon Gibson – April 1, 2021
Compassion Fatigue
Why Zoom isn’t the only reason we’re feeling exhausted
Amber Foster – March 30, 2021
Engaging the Senses on Zoom
Bringing sensory experience to online learning
Ben Pack – March 23, 2021
Turning Asynchronous Course Videos into Active Learning Opportunities
Strategies and Technologies
Amber Foster – March 2, 2021
Lightboard
Turning my home garage into an LED Lighboard studio
Peyman Nojoumian – February 23, 2021
Falling Back, Springing Forward
Looking Ahead to Spring Semester
Amber Foster – February 1, 2021
Fun with Freshman Biology Students
Bringing non-academic enjoyment to the Spring semester
Christa Bancroft – January 25, 2021
Class Culture and Mindfulness
Taking five minutes
Ben Pack – December 22, 2020
Inviting Scientists into the Classroom with Zoom
Using Zoom to enable unique interactions for students
Christa Bancroft – December 14, 2020
Giving Students Schedule Autonomy
Letting students decide the “when” and “where” of group work
Christa Bancroft – December 4, 2020
Get Students Involved in Teaching and Increase Their Learning – Part 2
More active learning strategies
Christa Bancroft – November 25, 2020
Get Students Involved in Teaching and Increase Their Learning – Part 1
Student involvement in the creation of course materials
Christa Bancroft – October 12, 2020
Final Days
The importance of reflection, community and reading at the end of the semester
Ben Pack – November 23, 2020
Thinking Outside the Box with Google Docs
Five ways you can use Docs to shake up your end-of-semester lesson plans
Amber Foster – November 9, 2020
Zoom-based Model United Nations Simulation
A description of the immersive experience and instructional lessons learned
Shannon Gibson – October 28, 2020
Guest Speakers
Sharing experiences during this new reality
Ben Pack – October 19, 2020
What do I Actually Want my Students to Learn?
Writing learning objectives for courses
Jessica Parr – October 15, 2020
Renaming Exams
Using Small Stakes Assignments to Reduce Stress
Jessica Parr – October 7, 2020
Talk About Voting Today
Encouraging students to apply concepts to the real world
Ben Pack – September 30, 2020
“Exquisite Freedom”:
On the value of freewriting for all majors and disciplines
Amber Foster – September 24, 2020
Asynchronous Alternative Assignments
Providing a Check-In with Students who cannot Attend the Synchronous Lecture
Jessica Parr – September 22, 2020
Discussion Participation from Around the World
How to have students involved in discussions when they are taking your course asynchronously
Christa Bancroft – September 16, 2020
Anti-Racist Teaching and Action
Moving reflection and actions towards praxis
Ben Pack – September 11, 2020
How do I Keep Them Coming?
Designing engaging synchronous class sessions
Jessica Parr – September 9, 2020
#Zoomlife
Reflections on Zoom fatigue
Amber Foster – August 31, 2020
Remembering to Talk to My Colleagues
Establishing learning communities
Jessica Parr – August 28, 2020
Deficit-Thinking and Shifting Mindset
Looking at the online experience through a different lens
Ben Pack – August 26, 2020
From Zoom Engagement to Immersive Learning Experiences
How to make the most of active learning in Zoom
Shannon Gibson – August 24, 2020
Out of the Frying Pan
What Fleeing a Wildfire Taught Me About Teaching Through COVID-19
Amber Foster – August 22, 2020
What I Learned from a Summer of Learning about Teaching Online
Insights and Tips
Hilary Schor – August 17, 2020
Virtual Icebreakers that get the Brain Moving
Collective concept mapping to explore complex issues
Shannon Gibson – July 27, 2020
Give Them What They Ask For
Do students really prefer asynchronous instruction?
Jessica Parr – July 23, 2020
How to Make an FAQ-Style Syllabus
and why you’d want to
Amber Foster – July 22, 2020
Lights, CAMERAS, Attendance!
Cracking the student participation code in online courses
Shannon Gibson – July 16, 2020
Final Count Down
How to time online exams to make them fair for all students
Iva Bozovic – July 14, 2020
Digital Tools
Using digital tools to facilitate creative and active engagement with course material
Colleen McQuillen – July 10, 2020
Gearing Up for the Fall
Setting up Blackboard by creating modules and welcome videos
Shannon Gibson – July 15, 2020
Adding Flavor to the Online Gumbo
Tips on working with guest speakers in Zoom
Andrew Chater – June 19, 2020
Playing Games
Reacting to the Past
Andrew McConnell Stott – June 19, 2020
Scheduling Face-to-Face Time with Students
Using Google Calendar with Zoom
Shannon Gibson – May 3, 2020
In Gratitude
Appreciating students, and the lessons they have to teach
Ben Pack – April 30, 2020
From Denial to Acceptance
Preparing for an online fall semester
Amber Foster – April 29, 2020
Looking Forward, Planning Ahead
What will I do differently next time?
Jessica Parr – April 28, 2020
Using the C.R.E.A.T.E. Curriculum to teach science using primary research articles (Part 2 of 2)
Using C.R.E.A.T.E. curriculum to incorporate scientific literature into coursework
Christa Bancroft – April 27, 2020
Using C.R.E.A.T.E. Curriculum to Teach Science Using Primary Research Articles (Part 1 of 2)
The C.R.E.A.T.E. program is a flexible way to teach science using primary research articles in a synchronous or asynchronous way
Christa Bancroft – April 20, 2020
Get Those Hands Up
Encouraging and Assessing Participation in Online Classrooms
Shannon Gibson – April 24, 2020
The Real vs. “Ideal” Student
The danger of planning for students who fit our ideals, while neglecting the students who are real
Ben Pack – April 23, 2020
Asynchronous Peer Response (or “Peer Review”)
Strategies and technologies for reading and responding to peer work
Amber Foster – April 22, 2020
It’s OK to not be OK
Surviving the isolation
Jessica Parr – April 21, 2020
Combining the Best of Both Worlds
Using Asynchronous and Synchronous Components Together
Shannon Gibson – April 20, 2020
Grading with Blackboard
An efficient grading method that will lead to more personalized feedback for students
Iva Bozovic – April 17, 2020
Finding Funny
Bringing humor back into class
Ben Pack – April 16, 2020
Spicing Up Blackboard Discussion Boards
Three ways to turn a static technology into dynamic discussion
Amber Foster – April 15, 2020
Online Laboratories
Transitioning Instructional Labs to the Virtual Space
Jessica Parr – April 14, 2020
Using Blackboard Tests for Asynchronous and Synchronous Student Work
Ideas for using Blackboard tests for collecting and grading student work both in and out of the classroom
Christa Bancroft – April 13, 2020
Before you Ditch the Bluebook
Some Student Perspectives on Take Home Exams
Shannon Gibson – April 10, 2020
Opening up on Lockdown
Vulnerability across digital divides
Ben Pack – April 9, 2020
Stress-Reduction Techniques for the College Classroom
From meditation to adult coloring books — what we can do, and why it matters
Amber Foster – April 8, 2020
Exams in Blackboard
How to change traditional exams to an online format
Jessica Parr – April 7, 2020
Developing Quick and Easy Asynchronous Lecture Content
Using embedded audio files in slide deck for non-video asynchronous content
Christa Bancroft – April 6, 2020
How to Limit Cheating in Blackboard Exams
Troubleshooting using an Honor Policy Quiz with Respondus
Shannon Gibson – April 2, 2020
On Listening
Taking action begins with understanding what others have to say
Ben Pack – April 1, 2020
Switching to Online, Open-Book Exams
The experience of using Blackboard tests in BISC 220
Alan Watts – April 1, 2020
Five (Easy) Ways to Use Social Media in the Virtual Classroom
Connecting in a time of disconnection
Amber Foster – April 1, 2020
Zoom Breakout Rooms + Google Drive = Small Group Work
Using your Google Drive to Create Small Group Activities and Report-Out Capabilities
Christa Bancroft – March 30, 2020
Look to the Libraries
Accessing digital resources to support student engagement
Jessica Parr – March 27, 2020
Make a Plan, Throw It Out, Make a New Plan
When plans go by the wayside, there is potential for opportunity and growth
Ben Pack – March 26, 2020
Online Teaching Method (for procedure-heavy lectures)
Workspace, equipment, and methods for the online instruction of procedure-heavy material, such as Physics calculations
Clifford V. Johnson – March 25, 2020
Looking Presentable on Webcam
How to set up a workspace so that you have an impressive presence during your Zoom meetings
Jennifer Bernstein – March 25, 2020
Hollywood Squares
When Synchronous Teaching Feels Like a Game Show no one is Winning
Amber Foster – March 24, 2020
Advice on Preparing Videos
Quick Tips on Preparing Videos for Asynchronous Teaching
Jessica Parr – March 24, 2020
Checking in with Students
Empathy and Understanding as part of our Pedagogy
Shannon Gibson – March 24, 2020
Zooming Large Lectures
Tips for Zoom Meeting Settings and Asking Questions for a Large Lecture Class
Christa Bancroft – March 23, 2020