Distracted: Helping Students Stay Engaged

Image from "Managing Your Distractions" by Silver (2020) By Jennifer Bland Have you noticed your students’ focus wandering during class? Neuroscientist John Medina found that “the brain begins to wander at about 10 minutes, at which point you need a new stimulus to spark interest. That doesn’t mean you can’t focus for longer than 10 minutes; … Continue reading Distracted: Helping Students Stay Engaged

three roads leading to three different people on computers

Three Steps to Active Learning: Encounter, Engage, Reflect

Image from Top Hat's "How Active Learning Engages Students in The Virtual Classroom" By Jennifer Bland When teaching in online and hybrid courses, you may find it helpful to think through the framework of Encounter, Engage, and Reflect.  How will your students encounter the information you are presenting?  How will your students engage with the … Continue reading Three Steps to Active Learning: Encounter, Engage, Reflect

group of penguins standing on a iceberg having a party with balloons, and party treats

Breaking the Ice: First Day Activities

Image from "60 Awesome Icebreakers for Orientation and Beyond" by Presence By Jennifer Bland Icebreakers are activities that help a group of people introduce themselves to each other, learn about and make connections with each other, and build community and belonging within a group.  We call it "breaking the ice" in recognition of the chilly, … Continue reading Breaking the Ice: First Day Activities