Each week, we send out three bite-sized tidbits with upcoming events: Teaching Tip, Research Review, and Favorite Resource. Find the archived postcards here.
See all Teaching Tips | See all Research Reviews | See all Favorite Resources
Teaching Tips 💡
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?…
Guide your students on the use of AI for learning
While there are mixed feelings about generative AI among faculty and students, it’s undeniable that AI is not going away and will continue to become embedded in all aspects of…
Feedback in your voice
Rubrics are handy tools for providing clear expectations and consistent feedback to learners, but students also welcome authentic feedback that sounds like it came from you. You can add your…
Teacher Confirmation
Teacher Confirmation Theory (Ellis, 2000) explains how instructor behaviors communicate to students that they are valued, respected, and capable of learning. These confirming behaviors reduce psychological distance, increase motivation, and…
Research Review 🔍
Generative and retrieval tasks: Does the sequence matter and do sequence effects depend on learning task delay?
This 2026 study investigated whether the order in which students complete generative tasks (like generating their own examples of concepts) and retrieval tasks (like cued recall) affects learning outcomes. Using…
Highly-Cited “AI Erodes Critical Thinking” Study Appears To Be AI Generated Slop
This week, I want to highlight a substack post critiquing a recent research article. The author critically examines a widely referenced paper claiming that increased AI use degrades critical thinking skills. Pookins…
Understanding Learning Strategy Use Through the Lens of Habit
This paper argues that students’ frequent use of ineffective learning strategies (like rereading and highlighting) isn’t just due to lack of awareness, time pressure, or goals — it may also…
Engaged learning during distraction: a case study of successful working moms in distance education
Favorite Resources 🔖
Choose your Assessment
The University of Kansas has a fantastic team supporting their CBE program, including a psychometrician (an expert in the measurement of mental capacities and processes) who developed a…
Did a Robot Write this Report? Managing AI Cheating
Generative AI is a powerful tool that can be used to support teachers and students. Unfortunately, just as AI can be used to generate lesson plans, provide helpful feedback, and…
Prioritizing Faculty Well-Being During Politicized Times
This article in Change: The Magazine of Higher Education does an excellent job of outlining the effect that political pressures have had on faculty across the country and how some faculty in…