Let’s face it: In Portland, we’re very used to mild winters. When freezing temperatures bring snow and icy roads, those who commute tend to go into what could politely be called “panic mode”. When Old Man Winter strikes during the last two weeks of a term, “panic mode” is not an option. Knowing what technology…Continue Reading Beating the Snow With Technology
Do you wonder why some students eligible for accommodations through accessible education services (AES) do not actually use their accommodations? In a recent qualitative study, students identified six key reasons: Desire for self-sufficiency Desire to avoid negative social reactions Insufficient knowledge about their accommodations Quality and usefulness of DSS and accommodations Negative experiences with professors Fear…Continue Reading Helping Students Use AES Services
Likely across the past few months, America’s election has worked its way into your classroom, if not your curriculum. After a divisive election, can the classroom be one of America’s few productive contact zones for the meeting of politically diverse citizens? If news, social media, and our own neighborhoods have increasingly become politically segregated, might…Continue Reading Students (and Instructors) as Political Animals
Once a year. Maybe twice. I have always viewed my office hours as the product of an implicit contract to be there for my students, so I am loath to miss them for any reason. But my preferences have recently been overridden by the arrival of my son; his mucous membranes have introduced a level…Continue Reading Rethinking How Office Hours Are Kept
Last year 1,180 UP students worked together with peer assistants in the Learning Commons to support and improve their learning for a total of nearly 4,600 visits. Wouldn’t it be great if even more students came early and often to the Learning Commons to support their thinking, learning, and the application of new concepts in…Continue Reading The excitement of academic learning