Teaching and Learning - IT Teaching Resources

Supporting mental health and well-being

The demands of remote learning can be uniquely stressful. Balancing the mental, emotional, and physical self often requires new strategies in order to maintain health alongside productivity. Explore the below articles and stories about ways to make your classroom a space for students to learn and feel supported in their well-being.

Voices | Resources

Instructor and student voices

Greta Olivares focuses on maintaining health and fostering engagement in the online setting

Greta Olivares, a GSE alumna, shares how maintaining her health and staying connected with others helped her succeed in online classes

Melody Wu shares her unique challenges with remote learning

Melody Wu, an International Education Policy Analysis (IEPA) student, shares how she balances schoolwork and childcare

Lindsey Hasak advises being kind to yourself when learning remotely

Lindsey Hasak, a Developmental and Psychological Sciences Program (DAPS) student, shares how she adapted to online learning

Lunch-n-Learn: Instructor Panel #1

GSE instructors discuss which tools and strategies have been most beneficial, and how the remote online environment has impacted student relationships and the ability to effectively learn

Resources

Getting Things Done: Strategies and Digital Tools for Time and Tasks

Understanding personal energy and procrastination to improve productivity

University students’ mental health amidst the COVID-19 quarantine in Greece

A quantitative study of 1,000 university students in Greece shows the mental health challenges from COVID-19

YouthTruth Survey: Learning and well-being during COVID-19

A bird’s-eye view of changes to students’ well-being in response to shifts in their learning environments during COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 on student mental health

A survey from Active Minds, a leading college mental health organization on the impact of COVID-19 on student mental health

Student anxiety and depression increasing during school closures

A survey assessing new mental health challenges among California high school and college-aged students

Supporting student well-being

A detailed guide on how to support student well-being online and lessen the mental health impacts of COVID-19

COVID-19’s mental health effects on children, college students, and adults

This article discusses how college students, children, and adults are uniquely impacted by COVID-19

Faculty role in responding to the acutely distressed college student

A study on the importance of promoting mental health and implementing suicide prevention models

Barriers to learning online experienced by students with a mental health disability

A qualitative case study to better understand online learning barriers

Structuring and streamlining content

Remote classes offer opportunities to think critically about the purpose of a course. Instructors must consider not only what learners engage with, but also where and how learners might access these ideas and experiences within the digital course. Explore some approaches for mapping course content in an intentional and learner-centered way in the articles and stories below.

Voices | Resources

Instructor and student voices

Alvin Pearman on the importance of centering the needs of students

Alvin Pearman talks about amplifying student voice and setting up a culture of active engagement

Christopher Cormier and Catalina Martinez share their technology tools for success

Christopher Cormier and Catalina Martinez talk about dynamic teaching methods and the technology they use to facilitate their course

Lunch-n-Learn: Instructor Panel #1

GSE instructors discuss which tools and strategies have been most beneficial, and how the remote online environment has impacted student relationships and the ability to effectively learn

Nadia Gathers and Erika Woolsey illustrate how teaching philosophy and practice converge

Nadia Gathers and Erika Woolsey reframe how online constraints are an opportunity for innovation in learning and community-building

Resources

SQL Workshop

Connecting datasets and sharing with research partners for greater insights

Setting up a sustainable data project

How to balance hidden costs, project structure, and reproducibility across the lifetime of a data project

Building video-based learning experiences with Panopto

Now integrated into Canvas, the Panopto video platform can enhance presence and streamline access to media

How Hyperdocs connect learning resources

Hyperdocs centralize instructional materials for a particular lesson, unit, week, or course into a single document

How to utilize Padlet, a customizable bulletin board

Padlet is a virtual, customizable ‘bulletin board’ with options to populate with text, images, audio, videos, and links

Canvas course organization: Recommendations and templates

A guide on how to use and import premade modules and templates to quickly set up a Canvas course

How to deploy a launchpad to centralize course materials

Improve communication through a shared document that organizes course content

Building effective blended learning programs

Research on blended learning programs that complements students and promotes learning and application-learned behaviors

A blended learning approach to enhance students’ learning experiences

A case study examining the benefits of blended learning on students’ learning experiences

An instructional framework for fostering student engagement in online learning

A guide with four recommendations for developing blended courses

Academic motivation and self-regulation in online learning

A comparative study on the academic motivation of undergraduates and graduate students in online courses

Social robots and virtual agents as lecturers for video instruction

A lab experiment testing the results of substituting a digital agent for a video of the instructor

Canvas FAQ

A collection of answers to the most commonly asked questions about Canvas courses and general Canvas tools and features

How to organize learner-centered course material

Options and tips for organizing class materials and resources, using a learner-centered Canvas compatible approach

Zoom FAQ

A collection of answers to the most commonly asked questions about Zoom meetings and the general tools and website features

How to download and sign into Zoom

A guide on installing Zoom to your computer and attending a meeting as an authenticated user

Hosting a Zoom meeting or class: Best practices

GSE-IT shares Zoom best practices and how to schedule and host a meeting

Collection of teaching resources for instructors and TAs

This collection of internal and external resources can help instructors and teaching teams adapt in-person courses to an online format

Promoting student engagement

Online classrooms can offer opportunities for rich interaction. As instructors seek innovative avenues for communication and remixing of ideas, new tools and patterns have emerged that benefit interaction. Explore the below insights towards a more generative and interactive learning environment.

Voices | Resources

Instructor and student voices

TA toolkit session #1: Supporting and engaging students

Session highlighting high-impact practices for instructional teams

Lunch-n-Learn: (Re)Designing Online Classrooms for Active, Collaborative Learning

GSE instructors share their technologies and strategies on how they support active learning in online environments

Mike Hines advises to practice education ideals

Mike Hines talks about the importance of focusing on student-centered learning and diverse engagement methods

Lunch-n-Learn: Instructor Panel #2

GSE instructors share their methods, tools, and strategies on how to support the student learning experience and foster engagement in the online setting

GSE IT Workshop: Creating Space for Connection and Engagement

A workshop lead by Denise Pope and Laura Easley on how to use teaching and learning to build a connection

Lunch-n-Learn: Universal Design for Learning

A Lunch-n-Learn panel presented by Nicole Ofiesh and Kathryn Gray on how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) fosters better learning outcomes

Podcast: Ann Jaquith and Ann Porteus reflect on course iteration and connecting with students

Fellow teachers share out meaningful moments in class and chat about how they adapted to online learning

Robert Wachtel Pronovost designs remote learning around choice and trust

Video discussion, escape rooms, and malleable reading lists set the stage for an inclusive and organic learning environment

Resources

Bringing cooperative learning structures online using breakout rooms

How to bring traditional peer interaction structures like jigsaw, speed dating, gallery walks, and mix and mingle into the digital space

Learning activities in varied environments

Instructional practices that augment active learning and engagement

Utilizing Kahoot to assess understanding

Kahoot is an online platform for hosting interactive quizzes and knowledge-based competitions

How to use Google Jamboard to build ideas visually

Google Jamboard is a virtual whiteboard that elevates collaboration via sticky notes and doodling tools

How to utilize Poll Everywhere, a surveying and data-collection platform

Poll Everywhere provides short and versatile polls for data-gathering and feedback in class

How to use the Slides as Virtual Background Zoom feature

The new Zoom presentation share screening option allows your meeting to be better accessible to students as well as less distracting

Zoom Breakout Room FAQs

Answers to common questions that arise when using breakout rooms in Zoom

How to create hands-on and experiential activities

Hands-on activities with manipulable materials and objects can propel learning and discourse

How to use MURAL, a digital collaboration space

Improve productivity and collaboration in remote teams with real-time idea sketches

The Flipped Classroom: Engage millennial students through active learning strategies

A literature review on the benefits and challenges of a “flipped classroom” approach

Cognitive style and attitudes towards using online learning and assessment methods

This study investigates several forms of online learning and assessment methods

Designing learning environments to promote student learning: An ergonomic focus

A report on how the design of learning environments can influence student performance

Computer-mediated communication to enhance face-to-face discussions

A small study on the effects of computer-mediated communication

Motivation as a lens to understand online learners

An article on how open online learning environments are a novel convergence of traditional course structures

The instructor’s face in video instruction

Two field studies highlight the value of social cues for motivation, and expresses caution against the one-size-fits-all approaches to instructional design

Using Zoom breakout rooms

A descriptive guide describing the various ways to create and manage Breakout Rooms in Zoom

Social learning theory and web-based learning environments

An analysis of social learning pedagogical models and how they can be used to design technology-mediated teaching

Suggested norms for online classes

General classroom norms and netiquette for online learning environments

Facilitating class community building before the quarter begins

A collection of college level community and relationship building activities for before the quarter begins

Participating in a Zoom meeting or class: Best practices

GSE-IT shares best practices and tips for participating in a Zoom meeting

Bridging synchronous and asynchronous learning

Online learning can happen synchronously, with instructors and students gathering at the same time and (virtual) place and interacting in “real-time”; or asynchronously, with students accessing materials at their own pace. Explore the stories and resources below for insights on how to incorporate both types of learning and foster continuity across these using hybrid activities

Voices | Resources

Instructor and student voices

Karla Lomeli talks about her experience adapting to remote learning

Karla Lomeli, a PhD Candidate in the Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (RILE) program, provides tips on learning from home

Christine Bywater and Sandra Velásquez center student engagement and creativity in remote learning

Christine Bywater and Sandra Velásquez share tools and workflows for adapting interactive content to an online learning environment

Haley Hemm offers tips on managing workloads and staying organized

Haley Hemm, a GSE alumna, describes how she kept organized and managed screen time during Spring 2020

For Nicole Ardoin, online success meant creating offline activities

Nicole Ardoin talks about the importance of creating class activities that can be completed asynchronously and offline

Jo Boaler promotes collaborative learning in online environments

Jo Boaler shares how whiteboards, journals, and consensus can serve as tools for a learner-centered classroom

Victor Lee adapts course for choice and interactivity

Victor Lee shares his remote learning pedagogy and underlying rationale for course design features

Resources

Back-to-school workshop

Integrating tools new and old to elevate learning experiences

Chatbot as a teaching tool

Cases in which conversational AI supports learners and instructional teams

Slack as a teaching tool

Leveraging interaction-rich online discussion boards to optimize instruction

Classes on your feet

Opportunities for students to leave the screen and incorporate movement into learning activities

Direct instruction in online environments

Toolkit and recommendations for delivering content in a virtual classroom

How to leverage podcasts for learning

Podcasts are an engaging way for instructors to merge project-based learning with digital media

How to create your own podcast

Creating, editing, and distributing engaging audio content

How Hyperdocs connect learning resources

Hyperdocs centralize instructional materials for a particular lesson, unit, week, or course into a single document

Canvas course organization: Recommendations and templates

A guide on how to use and import premade modules and templates to quickly set up a Canvas course

Active and interactive learning online

This study compares the learning differences between students in an online writing course and an in-person writing course

How to learn and teach in a hybrid course

A handbook for designing and teaching hybrid or blended courses focuses on outcomes-based practice

Millennial students and the flipped classroom

This paper examines the flipped-classroom approach to teaching accounting to millennial students

Cognitive presence in asynchronous online learning

This article examines the contribution of four scenario‐based online discussion strategies

The impact of a flipped classroom design on learning performance in higher education

This study examines the differential impact of studying in a flipped classroom setting

How chemists achieve active learning online during the COVID-19 pandemic

A Singaporean study on the transition to online learning

How to handle unstable WiFi in Zoom

A short article on how to make Zoom meetings more accessible for students with poor or unstable internet connection

Recording and sharing Zoom meetings and chat

How to record a synchronous and asynchronous Zoom class and access the chat features

Hosting a Zoom meeting or class: Best practices

GSE-IT shares Zoom best practices and how to schedule and host a meeting

What is synchronous and asynchronous learning?

Guide to understanding the interplay and affordances of online and offline instruction

Building community and trust

Community is the foundation of a conducive learning environment. In digital environments, instructors find it especially important to intentionally build in opportunities for interactions that promote and reinforce students’ sense of connection and belonging. Explore stories and resources for ideas about how to create community, facilitate social interactions and connections, and build student trust in digital environments.

Voices | Resources

Instructor and student voices

TA toolkit session #2: Equitable and inclusive teaching

Key strategies for enacting a more equitable and inclusive classroom

Lunch-n-Learn: Reflections on Remote Learning – What’s Worth Keeping?

GSE instructors reflect over the past year and share strategies that have made a difference in remote instruction

Podcast: Elena Darling-Hammond and Danny Pimentel share their experience as TAs bridging students and instructors

Peer conversation addressing the evolving role of the TA

Podcast: Tatiana Zamora, Jesse Ramirez, Monica Sircar, and Jane Weiss provide insights on how courses supported their career goals

GSE first-year Ph.D. students chat about choosing classes based on personal and research interests

Podcast: Ghisly Garcia and Brian Chien share what they learned about building community remotely

GSE master’s students reflect on how they built relationships with their cohort

Podcast: Becca Hanlin and Rob Heavner share their remote experiences and community-building activities

GSE students reflect on what made their classes unique and share hopes for the next quarter

Lunch-n-Learn: Digital Inclusion

GSE instructors discuss the importance of accessibility, digital inclusion, and accommodation

Jarita Greyeyes recommends building connections with your cohort

Jarita Greyeyes, a third-year Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (RILE) student, shares how she copes with the stresses of her program

Hannah Katherine D’Apice provides remote learning advice for Ph.D. students

Hannah Katherine D’Apice, a International Comparative Education (ICE) Ph.D. student, shares collaborating methods and tools for the online setting

Lunch-n-Learn: Student Voices Panel

GSE students and alumni reflect on their online classroom experiences, how far they have come as online learners, and plans for the future

Mathieu Penot offers advice on connecting with other students

Mathieu Penot, a Learning, Design and Technology (LDT) MA student, provides tips on how he managed online classes

Podcast: Ann Jaquith and Ann Porteus reflect on course iteration and connecting with students

Fellow teachers share out meaningful moments in class and chat about how they adapted to online learning

For Sean Reardon, the shift to online meant trying on some new hats

Sean Reardon and his teaching team create opportunities for levity while building a space for collective learning

Resources

Building Your Own AI App

Deconstructing the process of developing a basic tool

Boosting awareness with digital design tools

How to apply design tips to boost course or event offerings using ready-made templates

Questioning and discussion techniques

Techniques to promote engagement and participation in discussions

How to utilize Padlet, a customizable bulletin board

Padlet is a virtual, customizable ‘bulletin board’ with options to populate with text, images, audio, videos, and links

How to use Google Jamboard to build ideas visually

Google Jamboard is a virtual whiteboard that elevates collaboration via sticky notes and doodling tools

How to conduct one-on-one meetings with students

Individualized meetings can foster connection and feedback with students

Bringing in guest speakers to deepen student learning

The why and how of bringing guests into a Zoom meeting

Informal trust-building in an online environment

A GSE-inspired collection of practices for positive relationships in the digital classroom

Community building activities for agreement and norm-setting

This article offers some tips on how to build community in an online environment

Building community and trust throughout the quarter

A collection of community and relationship building activities to use throughout the quarter

Facilitating cognitive presence in online learning

A study on interaction in online learning and new technologies to support sustained educational communication

Students speak about their online learning experiences

A small qualitative study that examines the perceptions of components of virtual schooling

Recommended Zoom meeting security settings

Managing the Zoom security settings to protect your classes from unwanted interactions

Creating multiple pathways for student participation

Utilizing Zoom chat, Zoom polling, and PollEverywhere to increase student engagement and participation

Building community and setting norms during the first day of class

A collection of community and relationship building activities for the first day of class

Facilitating class community building before the quarter begins

A collection of college level community and relationship building activities for before the quarter begins

Connecting in the virtual college classroom

Digital learning experts at the GSE share tips to help instructors build community and collaboration while teaching remotely.

Gathering assessment and feedback

Frequent and varied opportunities for assessment and feedback are key to understanding where students are at. Intentional feedback points can deliver these insights and help to adapt a course accordingly. But gathering feedback can pose distinct challenges depending on the data, student, and learning environment. Explore these ideas and more through the articles and stories below as we consider what assessment online can look like.

Voices | Resources

Instructor and student voices

TA toolkit session #3: Effective evaluation

Strategies for assessment to power learning and collective ideation

Hannah Johnstone shares challenges and best practices for working from home

Hannah Johnstone, a GSE alumna, describes her challenges with online learning and offers some promising practices for remote learning

Nadia Gathers and Erika Woolsey illustrate how teaching philosophy and practice converge

Nadia Gathers and Erika Woolsey reframe how online constraints are an opportunity for innovation in learning and community-building

Resources

Supporting assessment in online environments

Suggestions and considerations for feedback and evaluation in a virtual classroom

Questioning and discussion techniques

Techniques to promote engagement and participation in discussions

Utilizing Kahoot to assess understanding

Kahoot is an online platform for hosting interactive quizzes and knowledge-based competitions

How to use Calendly to schedule meetings

Set up meetings and Zoom links efficiently via online booking tool

How to distribute weekly exit tickets to check-in on students

Exit tickets allow instructors to gauge how students are doing and collect course feedback

How to utilize Poll Everywhere, a surveying and data-collection platform

Poll Everywhere provides short and versatile polls for data-gathering and feedback in class

How to conduct one-on-one meetings with students

Individualized meetings can foster connection and feedback with students

How to use anonymous surveys to get student feedback

Anonymous semi-regular feedback forms can pave the way for a more student-centered learning experience

Providing student feedback in online courses

An article exploring how good online course feedback is one way to influence student learning

Effective online instructional and assessment strategies

A study surveying students and faculty about their perceptions of effective online instructional strategies

Using social annotation in online classes

An article on how using social annotation in online learning environments can improve teaching strategies

Office hours in an online world

A guide presenting ways for instructors to make digital office hours accessible and meaningful to students