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Pedagogy

Fixed-Seating, Big Classes...Can You Do Active Learning?

April 01, 2024

Active learning usually has associations of small groups of students talking and moving around a classroom filled with gleaming tech and slick seating. For most instructors, those types of classrooms are not where they spend most of their teaching time.

Canvas Chatbot Gets an AI Upgrade

October 02, 2023

The Northwestern Canvas Chatbot debuted in the winter of 2019 and has since helped thousands of students and instructors find quick and helpful answers...
Illustration of two people with conversation bubbles

Discussion Board Alternatives

January 13, 2021

Discussion can be a powerful learning activity that helps students synthesize thoughts and make high-level connections. During remote and online classes, discussion boards have become a valuable part of student engagement
Illustration of students and a checklist

Q&A on Collaborative or Two-Stage Exams

December 15, 2020

In this article, hear from a Northwestern faculty member who uses two-stage exams in her online and in-person classes and learn more about this type of assessment and how to execute it in Canvas.
Illustration of students discussing a paper

Spotlight On: Peer Review

October 12, 2020

Peer review can be a powerful activity that helps your students practice editing skills and creating substantive critique. But how can you avoid lackluster comments and Canvas confusion in a Peer Review activity?

To Teach Synchronously or Asynchronously is Not the Only Question

September 11, 2020

Please permit me to take a somewhat more philosophical approach to the “should I just teach synchronously” question that has been coming up during our move to remote instruction. I’ve been writing a lot of FAQs and short pieces that are bullets of items to check off to prepare for this transition, so it is a luxury to spend a little more time on something substantive.

Recommendations for Remote Quarter Start Readiness

March 26, 2020

A question likely on your mind is, What should I prioritize for my first week of class? Over the past few weeks, you’ve likely massively revamped your final exams and projects, attended some Zoom or Canvas workshops, packed up essential items from your office, and given your Spring Quarter syllabus a hard stare.