Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? Regardless of the topic or level of the course—intro-level general studies or upper-division requirement for the major—we have all heard our students ask, “Why do I have to take this class?” While this is a genuinely annoying question, the “translation” might inspire a bit of empathy: when students ask …
Category: SIP Post
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-15-skills-based-syllabi/
Apr 26 2018
SIP 7.14 Exemplars
Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? At this time in the semester students are often in a panic about what exactly professors want for an assignment, even though there are directions. Students know from prior experience that every professor has a few idiosyncrasies and preferences, which means directions can be open to some interpretation. Rather …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-14-exemplars/
Apr 24 2018
SIP 7.13 The Snowball
Thirsty for Strong Instructional Practice? The SIPsquad is excited to bring you this Throwback Thursday selection! Take a look at this gem from Year Two: the Snowball. As the weather gets warmer, the Snowball is sure to make your classroom chill with a fun and inclusive activity that encourages whole-class participation — even from students who …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-13-the-snowball/
Apr 12 2018
SIP 7.12 The Difference Between “Methodological Variety” and “Universal Design for Learning”
Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? Two professors were overheard chatting about their classes: Professor A: This semester I am really doing a lot in my classes! Over the course of the semester, all of my students do paired work, group presentations, individual projects, and other fun activities in and out of class. Professor B: Cool! This semester, I am using …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-12-the-difference-between-methodological-variety-and-universal-design-for-learning/
Apr 06 2018
SIP 7.11 Sustaining Resilience in the Race to the Semester Finish Line
Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? No matter when the semester break occurs nor the length of the respite, the last weeks of a semester regularly fill with malaise, procrastination, anxiety, and exhaustion. When the weather is inviting, attendance and productivity wane as students (and faculty) prefer to be outdoors more than indoors. You might …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-11-sustaining-resilience-in-the-race-to-the-semester-finish-line/
Mar 30 2018
SIP 7.10 Proactive Accessibility
Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? How do you feel at the beginning of the semester when you know students are going to give you letters asking for accommodations (accessibility letters)? Do you think about what you will have to change on a day-by-day basis or the extra work you will have to do to …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-10-proactive-accessibility/
Mar 16 2018
SIP 7.9 Specifications Grading
Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? It is 9pm on a Sunday night. You spent much of yesterday and most of today grading and you still aren’t done. You try to provide such thoughtful feedback to your students, but you can’t be sure that they read it. You …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-9-specifications-grading/
Mar 09 2018
SIP 7.8 Creating Comfortable Relationships with Blackboard
Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? Many of us earned our degrees B.G. (Before Google), when computers served the function of word processors rather than a gateway to infinite amounts of information. Now technology and the internet have opened up new and different ways to teach, including online education. Higher education and K -12 settings are both seeing a sharp increase in the adoption of online courses. According to …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-8-creating-comfortable-relationships-with-blackboard/
Mar 01 2018
SIP 7.7 Creating “True” Breaks — Not Assigning Work Over Break
Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? Have you ever noticed that the energy in the classroom after Spring Break can be a little . . . subdued? If you are like many academics, you work through Spring Break and expect your students to use the time to get caught up on reading and assignments. You might have …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-7-creating-true-breaks-not-assigning-work-over-break/
Feb 26 2018
SIP 7.6 The Class Notetaker
Dear Readers, In January, the SIPsquad celebrated three full years of bringing Strong Instructional Practices to the MSU Denver community! As a special treat, we wanted to take you back to where it all began: SIP 1.1, The Class Notetaker. This SIP and all past SIPs can be found on our website, The Well. Take a …
Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-7-6-the-class-notetaker/