Tips for spurring critical thinking among students onlineMichelle Horton shares three online course design strategies that will help students develop their critical thinking skillsMichelle Horton University of West Florida
Don’t lose the lesson: planning design to future-proof higher education Patrick Sanaghan explains how universities can distil the lessons of the past 18 months of crisis to inform strategic future plans Patrick Sanaghan The Sanaghan Group
Connecting research and humanities through creative collaborationsCreative collaborations between students in different disciplines can offer opportunities to gain “real world” experience and apply their knowledge in new contexts. Allison Schwartz explains howAllison SchwartzUniversity of West Florida
How to engage students when some are in the room and some are on Zoom Flower Darby offers practical tips for keeping all students engaged when teaching a class in which some students are with you in person and others are learning remotely via a teleconferencing platform Flower DarbyNorthern Arizona University
Pandemic teaching: storm clouds and silver linings Glenn Geher talks through the highs and lows of teaching during a pandemic and the lessons we can learn from them Glenn GeherState University of New York at New Paltz
Funny memes and other ways to encourage students to keep their cameras onFrank R. Castelli offers advice from his evidenced-based strategy to get students to use their cameras without requiring itFrank R. CastelliCornell University
How universities can support students’ return to campus post-pandemicDanielle McDonald and colleagues share advice on how universities can approach welcoming two student cohorts to campus for the first time, staying mindful of the vastly different attitudes among students relating to the post-pandemic transition Danielle McDonald, Anita Sahgal, Jennifer DiPrete, Allison CrumeUniversity of South Florida
My first post-Covid conference showed me we need to prep for the campus returnAt this conference, faculty were like the walking wounded, but we can and should learn from it because our students deserve our best selves, says Flower DarbyFlower DarbyNorthern Arizona University
Never waste a good crisis: what to keep from pandemic teaching strategiesFlower Darby talks through the digital teaching skills and tools that instructors should hold on to, even after returning to campus, to enhance student learning and successFlower DarbyNorthern Arizona University
Why miss out on revenue when universities can take more blended learning in-house?Institutions are embracing the opportunity to create and deliver their own online programmes, but they’re realising that means more to think about, says Elliot FelixElliot FelixBrightspot
How universities can build meaningful collaborations to solve societal challenges For universities to extend their impact and community engagement, they need to form strong partnerships with external organisations and individuals. Alicia Wilson shares seven guiding principles that support successful collaborationAlicia WilsonJohns Hopkins University
This is our chance to create the classroom of the futureWe know what works best for learning, and most of it is easier to implement in the online world, says Daphne KollerDaphne KollerStanford University
Equitable teaching that creates pathways to success for all students Andrew Estrada Phuong and co-authors present a framework for an adaptive equity-oriented pedagogy that helps diverse students achieve better resultsAndrew Estrada Phuong, Judy Nguyen, Fabrizio Mejia, Christopher Hunn, Dena MarieUniversity of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Orinda Academy
Distance learners deserve better than HE’s latest bait and switch Remote learning is the latest scapegoat being used to justify returning to the ‘normal’ of rising tuition costs and sky-high student debt, says Zachary Michael JackZachary Michael JackNorth Central College
Campus webinar: Innovative teachingAs we emerge from the pandemic, what innovations in online teaching have come about in the last year? Four experts in digital and teaching innovation from the UK and US discuss effective ways of teaching that harness new technological toolsSarah Dyer, Dale Johnson, Agnes Kukulska-Hulme, Ian TurnerThe University of Exeter, Arizona State University, The Open University, University of Derby
Don’t downplay the role of community colleges in healing a nationAt a time of rampant disinformation, these two-year institutions can be the engines of enquiry and purpose that enable the next generation to rebuild our democracy, says Eduardo PadronEduardo PadronMiami Dade College
A student mental health crisis awaits. Here’s how we avoid a bad fallExtra funding should be requested now to staff up wellness centres, counselling centres and campus ministries, says Todd ZakrajsekTodd ZakrajsekUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Returning to ‘normal’ is really a return to ignoranceCovid revealed that students need flexible and inclusive learning opportunities − something that should have been obvious well before the pandemic, says Torrey TrustTorrey TrustUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
The digital shift will have many (positive) side-effectsIn the not-so-distant future, we’ll realise the digital transformation has changed higher education for the better, in ways we never expected, say Rick Shangraw and Wayne BovierRick Shangraw, Wayne BovierCintana Education, Higher Digital
How leaders can seize higher ed’s ‘catalytic moment for change’Those that lead by example, reward innovative faculty and increase campus-wide buy-in will determine the future of higher education, says Jon McNaughtanJon McNaughtanTexas Tech University
Socialising is hugely important, but virtual campuses help learning, tooThe social elements of university help students succeed academically, so we must start transplanting them online, says Elizabeth Lehfeldt Elizabeth A. LehfeldtCleveland State University
Let’s stop confusing what just happened with true online learningDuring the pandemic, decades of research and practice were tossed aside in a matter of days, says Ali Carr-ChellmanAli Carr-ChellmanUniversity of Dayton
Never forget: your course is not only yoursToo much of our instructional design undershoots the potential of higher education to improve not only individual lives but also the public good, says Robin DeRosaRobin DeRosaPlymouth State University
More screen time: using instructor-featured video to create connection onlineAaron Smith explains why instructor-featured videos are such a powerful tool for keeping remote-learning students grounded and for providing a sense of human connection, based on his research Aaron SmithUniversity of Waterloo
Flexibility is key if we want students to connect with their studiesUniversal design for learning not only embraces diversity, it also uses it as the basis for providing choice in how students learn – and succeed, says Lillian NaveLillian NaveAppalachian State University
Should lecturers be trained to deal with shortening attention spans?Would my life be easier if I had received explicit guidance in how to deliver content in TikTok-length pieces? asks Katie DavisKatie DavisUniversity of Washington
This model is the future of diversity in higher educationComing together for support is the only way forward – and the Council of Coalitions is the model for inter-group organising we desperately need, says Pardis MahdaviPardis MahdaviArizona State University
The trials of teaching a ‘new’ script in a virtual worldTeaching non-Roman scripts online throws up great challenges, but we must preserve the world’s linguistic resources, say Rana Raddawi, Jingjing Ji and Ronit AlexanderRana Raddawi, Jingjing Ji, Ronit AlexanderNorthwestern University
The sector’s mental health workers need help tooMore assistance must be offered to help students survive, let alone thrive – and the same goes for student crisis interventionists like me, says Lula TorresLula TorresInsideTrack
Beware the futility of higher education’s wellness theatreSurface-level emphasis on self-care without discussing systemic problems in HE runs the risk of gaslighting students who face very real barriers, says Fiona RawleFiona RawleUniversity of Toronto Mississauga
Expectation and compassion: two sides of the coin for successful learning outcomesCelia Ann Evans explains how instructors can balance compassion with high expectations to guide students to better learning gainsCelia Ann EvansCornell University
Moving student competitions online has made them better than everVirtual competitions have flourished and resulted in greater international collaboration, says Gayle DeBruynGayle DeBruynFerris State University
To see or not to see: managing the complex issue of Zoom camerasMany students opt to keep cameras turned off in online classes, which makes building authentic connections more difficult. Celia Ann Evans shares strategies for encouraging the use of cameras without making it a requirement Celia Ann EvansCornell University
Rethinking remote labs to deliver during Covid and beyondOur faculty has devised truly innovative methods to replace the in-person lab experience, says Maria KlaweMaria KlaweHarvey Mudd College
A bit of creativity can go a long way when teaching onlineIt’s crucial to shake things up to stop online delivery from homogenising even the most disparate teaching styles, says Constanza PacherConstanza PacherMacEwan University
How to teach through the lens of the Sustainable Development GoalsTerry Sunderland offers insight on how the Sustainable Development Goals can provide a useful framework to guide students’ learning across multiple disciplinesTerry SunderlandUniversity of British Columbia
Covid proved that HE can change quickly and effectively after allMuch discussion has focused on what to do better, but we should also recognise strengths that had not been seen prior to the crisis, say Jon McNaughtan and Hugo GarcíaJon McNaughtan, Hugo GarcíaTexas Tech University
The campus is dead, long live the campusPotential post-Covid changes to campus design will slide along a spectrum from optimising space to rethinking academic structures, says Jay DeshmukhJay DeshmukhIBI Group
Virtual language learning through synchronous and asynchronous teaching Theresa Perales and Kelly Metz-Matthews outline how synchronous and asynchronous online teaching tools can be used to engage students in new ways that enhance their language proficiencies Theresa Perales, Kelly Metz-MatthewsSan Diego State University
Lessons learned teaching online, from wi-fi woes to war zonesHuman issues, particularly willingness to contribute to discussions, were more significant than tech issues when teaching across borders to diverse audiences, says David MouldDavid MouldOhio University
Biden’s next big deal must include expanded broadband accessThe pandemic helped expose an insidious digital divide that imperils efforts to reduce inequality and promote social mobility, says Jem SpectarJem SpectarUniversity of Pittsburgh Johnstown
Using learning technologies to enhance students’ professional communication skillsLearning technology offers an opportunity to embed useful workplace skills training into university courses, as Kyle Bowen and Allison Hall explainKyle Bowen , Allison HallArizona State University
THE Live US 2021: Overcoming leadership challenges in digital teachingProvosts at four US institutions discuss their leadership styles, the future of online teaching and how to balance the often competing agendas of governments, students and internal stakeholdersEmily Carter, Steven W. McLaughlin, Jeffrey Holm, Sunil KumarUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, University of North Dakota, Johns Hopkins University
Grades are dehumanising, but ‘ungrading’ is no simple solutionThere is nothing ideologically neutral about grades, and nothing ideologically neutral about the idea we can neatly and tidily do away with them, says Jesse StommelJesse StommelUniversity of Mary Washington
May the force be with you: driving diversity in online teaching Pardis Mahdavi explains how academics can ensure they support and enhance diversity work in their online teaching through her Jedi – justice, equity, diversity and inclusion – framework Pardis MahdaviArizona State University
Teaching in the hall of mirrors: should faculty ever mention appearance?Educators must pay attention to why young people are using platforms that allow social interaction without visual scrutiny, says Elizabeth LoshElizabeth LoshWilliam & Mary
Leading with humanity in your online classroom: Tips beyond tech How to ensure the human side of teaching is not lost and that pedagogical practices promoting care drive decisions when instructing online, from research by Mary Candace Raygoza, Aaminah Norris and Raina León Mary Candace Raygoza, Aaminah Norris , Raina LeónSaint Mary’s College of California
Making online learning accessible for students with disabilities Online learning offers opportunities to widen accessibility for disabled students through careful course design and delivery. Clare Mullaney shares three tips to ensure your digital teaching is accessible to all learners Clare Mullaney Clemson University
Diversity statements: what to avoid and what to includeDiversity statements are increasingly important for faculty, both when teaching online and applying for jobs. Pardis Mahdavi and Scott Brooks outline what to avoid and what to include when drafting a diversity statementPardis Mahdavi, Scott BrooksArizona State University
Get serious about humour in your online classroomHumour can grab and hold students’ attention. Abha Ahuja and Trang Nguyen outline ways to introduce more laughter into online classesAbha Ahuja , Trang NguyenMinerva Schools at KGI
