My semester is winding down. It is funny the way that it does this; it has mostly ended but there are stray bits and pieces that seem to drag on interminably. Despite this, as at the end of every semester, I’ve started my own process of self-assessment to figure out with my teaching what went right, what wrong, and what I can do to be more effective in the future. Here are my current thoughts, with the hope that somebody, somewhere might find something in them a little useful: Laptops and electronic devices: I have known for some time about the research that argues that the use of laptops impede learning in class (see, e.g., here). Yet I’ve always resisted banning them from my classes. Over the past few years I’ve referred students to this research but let them make the choice – very few made the choice to close their laptops. Laptops in class have undeniable benefits, allowing students to quickly access online readings and look up things that can contribute to the class. And, remembering my own college days, I know that distraction can occur with or without a device. This semester, however, I decided to try a […]
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