Take a moment and envision the first day of classes. Does it resemble the following? introduce yourself hand out your syllabus tell students which textbook to buy ask them to introduce themselves call it a day Many faculty do just this, letting a golden opportunity pass them by. I get it. The first day of…
Tag Archives: Teaching Advice
![](https://blogs.charleston.edu/benignim/files/2017/02/Small-Teaching-Tip-11-13c65gk-750x250.png)
Small Teaching Tip #11: The Benefits of Peer Teaching
When we ask students to work in groups or turn to their neighbor to discuss course content, many of us wonder whether this kind of collaboration is worthwhile. Students aren’t experts, so could they be teaching each other incorrect information? Or perhaps what they discuss is superficial or watered down? Not to mention the drama…
![](https://blogs.charleston.edu/benignim/files/2017/01/Presentation1-2by50ht-720x250.jpg)
Small Teaching Tip #10: Creating Connections
One of the most challenging aspects of education is getting our students to use prior knowledge and to connect that with the new information we are trying to teach them. It seems as if students walk into each class and compartmentalize it in their brain, often, it feels as if they do this for each…
![](https://blogs.charleston.edu/benignim/files/2016/12/robot-and-human_650-xxxmoy-650x250.jpg)
DE 2.0 Workshop: Humanizing Your Online Course
“I miss getting to really know my students. It’s just not the same.” “There’s no way of knowing who is on the other side of the screen.” Sound familiar? If so then you aren’t alone. Not only do some instructors feel this way about online learning, but students do as well. Often they feel isolated,…
![Small Teaching Tip 9 Self Care Strategies for Faculty](https://blogs.charleston.edu/benignim/files/2016/12/Small-Teaching-Tip-9-1g37prd-750x250.png)
Small Teaching Tip #9: Self-Care Strategies for Faculty
For most faculty (and students), the end of the semester is an exhausting race to the finish. Endless cups of coffee, maybe even a Red Bull or two, sustain you through grading marathons and conversations with students that begin with “I really need an A.” Once you surface for a breath of fresh “I just…