Top 10 Faculty Focus Articles for 2010, part 1

Throughout 2010, Faculty Focus published more than 250 articles. The articles covered a wide range of topics — from online teaching to philosophy of teaching. In a two-part series, which will run today and tomorrow, we’re revealing the top 10 most popular articles for 2010.

Today’s post lists articles 5-10, starting with number 10.

10. A Checklist for Facilitating Online Courses
There are two common assumptions about teaching online that can sink even the most well-meaning neophyte. One is that “teaching is teaching” regardless of whether it’s face-to-face or online and there’s no reason to deviate from the proven principles that work so well in the traditional classroom. The second assumption is that teaching online is all about the technology, and if you design your course properly, it pretty much runs itself. Continue reading »

9. Five Questions that Improve Student Writing
Before embarking on a writing assignment, I challenge my students to imagine a skeptical reader who expects them to answer five important questions. Answering these questions demands critical writing and thinking, and helps the students develop thoughtful content, efficient structure, and clear sentences. Continue reading »

8. Reasons You Could be Disciplined, Fired, or Sued
A parent calls you to ask how her son is doing in your class. Her son, a first-year student, began the semester well but recently started missing class and turning in assignments late. The mother says she’s worried about him and wants to know if he’s showing up for class, how his grades are, and if he will pass your class.

What’s the best way to respond? Continue reading »

7. Are You Committing Plagiarism? Top Five Overlooked Citations to Add to Your Course Materials
When we hear of faculty plagiarism, it mostly involves a publication. However, do you create PowerPoint® presentations from text content? Do you use ideas or handouts from colleagues? Do you copy a chapter from a book as supplemental reading without providing the source information? Do you use pictures or trademarks from the Internet? If so, you may be guilty of plagiarism. Continue reading »

6. Reconsidering Grading Students on Class Participation
A common phrase uttered during the first day of class is: “You will be graded on class participation.” As instructors we know what we expect. But what exactly do our students think we mean by that statement? The longer I’ve taught the more I’ve come to realize that students may not really know. Continue reading »

Check back tomorrow when we reveal the top five articles for 2010. Can you guess the topic for number one?

Leave a Reply