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Make America AI-Ready

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the launch of “Make America AI-Ready,” a free artificial intelligence literacy course that will help American workers learn the basics of AI simply by texting “READY” to 20202.

Effects of teacher, peer and self-feedback on student improvement in online assessment: the role of individuals’ presumptions and feedback literacy

This study examines how teacher, peer, and self-feedback influence student learning in an online assessment context. Using a quasi-experimental design with university students, the authors compared how students perceive different feedback types versus how those feedback types actually impact writing improvement.

Accessible & Safe Technology

Did you know that Maine law requires that all technology developed, procured, or provided by publicly funded organizations must meet the accessibility requirements of Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA? There are also policies intended to protect student data privacy and security, even for free apps and services. But, do you really have time to read through all of the fine print on the website of a new technology platform to determine if it is acceptable?

Teaching in Higher Ed podcast

What if your commute, workout, or morning coffee came with a dose of practical, research-informed teaching ideas? Hosted by Bonni Stachowiak — professor, dean of teaching and learning, and lifelong educator — the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast has been a trusted weekly companion for college faculty since 2014, with over five million downloads and counting.

Title II–where do I start?

The deadline for compliance with the new Title II regulations on digital accessibility is approaching. We don’t anticipate that everything will be perfect by then, but there is a lot of work to do and you may feel overwhelmed or not sure where to start. Here are our recommendations:

Teaching the Parts AND the Whole

Most instructors quickly realize that they cannot just explain what they know and students will immediately understand it. Experts have so much context to their understanding that novices are missing. We then realize we have to break down a concept or topic into smaller parts to help the learner understand the bigger idea. Sometimes, though, we spend so much time on the smaller parts, we neglect to support students in assembling them into the whole that we understand. We emphasize specific pieces of information, skills, or approaches and assess them, then become disappointed when learners are not able to apply their learning in new contexts. Effective learning must use a combination of breaking down concepts and skills into smaller parts as well as strategically helping students to understand how they relate and differ across contexts.