New Research in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

The Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is an outlet for professors to share their reflections and knowledge of teaching and learning. Two articles of general interest are:

The student-authored essay as a teaching tool by J. R. Slade Jr. In courses that emphasize writing and composition, is it more helpful for students to read model essays written by other students instead of examples from professional writers? In this article from the current issue of JoSoTL, Slade sets out to answer that question and to uncover just how effective student-authored models can be as learning tools.

Supporting student learning: improving performance on short-essay exams using realistic practice opportunities by W. H. Dotson, J. B. Sheldon, and J. A. Sherman. It comes as no surprise that it can be difficult for students to apply class material in new contexts during exams without having practiced first. In this article, the authors report on research findings that showed students who attended mock exam study sessions (like those offered by Supplemental Instruction) and completed practice questions did better on the actual exam later on.

Over a Cup of Coffee: December 14th Edition

Alex J. from DePaul's FITS department discusses the potential tension between new technology features and ease of use in the Instructional Design & Development blog.

ProfHacker tackles the issue of universal design in digital environments, which has some bearing for teachers using technology in the classroom.

The Teaching Professor weighs the relative merits of a more open-ended, freely evolving class discussion.

Faculty Focus provides tips on adding one key ingredient to online courses: a sense of the instructor's personality.