This week, degree-granting programs for students with cognitive disabilities are becoming more widespread, and Alan Alda uses his celebrity status to promote engagement in science courses.
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Seeking Better Student Outcomes? Start With Improving Instruction
Steven Taylor writes that colleges should further explore the relationship between teaching quality and student success, citing Rutgers University-Newark’s collaboration with ACUE as an exemplary model for improving student outcomes through instruction. (Higher Ed Today)
The Path to Higher Education With an Intellectual Disability
Some institutions offer degree-granting programs for students with cognitive disabilities, teaching courses ranging from relationship skills to math, in an effort to prepare them for the workplace and give them access to an education they wouldn’t have otherwise. (The Atlantic)
“Small Bites” Can’t Substitute for a College Degree
Lebanon Valley College President Lewis Thayne argues that a college degree not only prepares students for a career, but also equips them with the skills they need to lead well-rounded, fulfilling lives. (The Hechinger Report)
In Praise of the First Person
Teaching students to write papers using the first person helps them think of themselves as scholars, David Gooblar writes. (Pedagogy Unbound)
Want to Finish College? Go Full Time, at Least Part of the Time
A new report shows that students who attend at least one semester of college full-time are more likely to graduate than those who attend part-time, and recommends that institutions find ways of engaging part-time students to motivate them to succeed. (nprEd)
Alan Alda on Teaching Science
Alan Alda encourages instructors to use a variety of strategies including storytelling and communication to engage students in science classes. (Higher Ed Professor)
A Tenure Track for Teachers?
Michael Bérubé and Jennifer Ruth propose creating separate tenure tracks for research and teaching, arguing that granting tenure to faculty who focus on teaching would raise the standards of higher education instruction. (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
Measuring Up
A new study finds that students who receive effective instruction are more likely to complete their degrees than those who don’t, and that the benefits of learning under a skilled instructor continue beyond the end of the course. (Education Next)
Partner News
Arizona State University: A “Playbook For Trustees” Highlights Innovative Practices for Campus Change Initiatives (EdSurge)
University of Southern Mississippi: Southern Miss Ranked as Nation’s No. 1 Military-Friendly Online College (Southern Miss Now)
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities: Board of Regents Recognizes 21 CSCU Faculty with Teaching, Research & Scholarly Excellence Awards (CSCU)
