Day 1: Focus on Success & Community
by Dana Bodewes, Instructional Designer The first day of class should be more than just a review of the syllabus. The beginning of a new term provides an opportunity to prepare students for success and establish community in your course before diving deep into instructional…
Instructional Resources, Part 1: Variety is the Spice of [Student] Life
By Dana Bodewes, Instructional Designer One way to increase student engagement with course content is to promote a variety of instructional resources that provide multiple perspectives or methods of delivery. When planning instructional content, consider how content posted online can enhance the learning taking place…
Faculty Resources: A New Library Collection
by Dana Bodewes, Instructional Designer To support the professional growth of PLU faculty, a new collection of “Faculty Resources” is now available on the first floor of the library. This small but mighty collection covers a range of topics related to teaching and learning in…
Using “Essential Questions” for Thoughtful Inquiry
by Dana Bodewes, Instructional Designer The beginning of a new academic year provides an opportunity to reflect on effective teaching practices and perhaps try something new. Consider the practice of using “essential questions” during the instructional process. Essential questions explore salient, fundamental ideas that are…