2010
VU Engineering Students Create Mobile Apps for Fun, Profit, and Credit
May. 21, 2010—This spring, the Vanderbilt School of Engineering’s magazine ran a story profiling Ben Gotow, a senior computer science major (now graduated, presumably) who has designed some very successful iPhone apps, including the drawing apps NetSketch and Layers. Gotow designed those apps on his own, but he was also a student in an Engineering course that...
Episode 22 – Teaching First-Year Students (Part 2)
May. 19, 2010—In this episode, we feature a panel discussion with Susan Kevra, Senior Lecturer, French; Adam List, Senior Lecturer, Chemistry; and Doug Christiansen, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions. “Will this be on the test?” is, perhaps, a common question from first-year students, but why is it so common? Students who assume their job...
Celebration of Teaching Slideshow
May. 19, 2010—As part of the CFT’s Celebration of Teaching two weeks ago, we put together a slideshow highlighting aspects of the year in teaching and the work of the CFT and our collaborators. The slideshow is now available online via Slideshare. Enjoy! Vanderbilt Center for Teaching – Celebration of Teaching 2010 View more presentations from Derek...
Engaging Students with Images Using VisualsSpeak
May. 17, 2010—[This is a guest post by Kate O’Doherty, graduate student in psychology & human development and 2010-2011 CFT Teaching Affiliate. We welcome contributions to the CFT blog by others in the Vanderbilt teaching community!] I consider myself pretty familiar with the typical classroom tools. PowerPoint? I’ve got it down-even those custom animations. Video? Sure, I...
Teaching the Large College Class: A Guidebook for Instructors with Multitudes
May. 14, 2010—Teaching the Large College Class: A Guidebook for Instructors with Multitudes, by Frank Heppner, Jossey-Bass, 2007. From the publisher: Teaching large classes is a fact of life for professors at many institutions. In addition to pedagogy, instructors of these courses must also be concerned with legal, ethical, financial, technological, personnel, and management issues. Virtually all...
Blueprint for Learning: Constructing College Courses to Facilitate, Assess, and Document Learning
May. 14, 2010—Blueprint for Learning: Constructing College Courses to Facilitate, Assess, and Document Learning , by Laurie Richlin, Introduction by Shirley Ronkowski, Stylus Publishing, LLC, 2006. From the publisher: This book familiarizes readers with course design elements; enables them to understand themselves as individuals and teachers; know their students; adapt to the learning environment; design courses that...
Call for Proposals – HP EdTech Innovators Award – Due June 30, 2010
May. 14, 2010—From the blog of Jim Vanides, who works with education programs in the Hewlett-Packard Office of Global Social Innovation, info about a new round of grant funding from HP: HP and the New Media Consortium (NMC) have teamed to launch the HP EdTech Innovators Award to showcase and support educators who are using technology in...
Grant Funding Resources for Educational Initiatives
May. 12, 2010—Interested in seeking funding for an educational initiative of some kind? Perhaps a course revision or a department- or school-level project? Or perhaps collaborating with faculty at other universities? The CFT has put together a collection of grant funding resources for educational initiatives. This guide includes links to local grant-related resources, internal funding sources, searchable...
Introduction to Rubrics: an assessment tool to save grading time, convey effective feedback, and promote student learning
May. 10, 2010—Introduction to Rubrics: an assessment tool to save grading time, convey effective feedback, and promote student learning, by Dannelle D. Stevens and Antonia Levi, Stylus Publishing, 2005. From the publisher: Research shows that rubrics save professors’ time while conveying meaningful and timely feedback for students, and promoting self-regulated and independent learning. The reason rubrics are...
Successful Beginnings for College Teaching: Engaging Your Students from the First Day
May. 10, 2010—Successful Beginnings for College Teaching: Engaging Your Students from the First Day, by Angela Provitera McGlynn, Atwood Publishing, 2001. From the publisher: Laying the groundwork for a successful semester starts with the first day of class. Author Angela Provitera McGlynn tells that the first day is not the day to pass out a syllabus and...