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February 11, 2020
Volume 4, Number 11
She Sent 1 Email. Grades Increased 25%
Powerful relationships between faculty and students can begin with an action as simple as a short email, Zoë Cohen writes for Evolllution. Faculty members tend to gravitate towards highly engaged students, but those withdrawn, quieter students might be the ones who need the most help, writes Cohen, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona.

A few years ago, Cohen made it a priority to engage the struggling students in her class after noticing that a larger number of students than usual had failed the first exam in her course. She searched for a fast, low-cost way to help these students without adding to her workload. Eventually, she decided to send a personalized, encouraging email to every student who failed the first exam—about 10% of a 200-student class.

Cohen kept the body of each email the same, but she personally addressed the message to each student and sent the emails from her account. Cohen began each message by pointing out that the student hadn’t done as well on the exam, but that there was still time to turn their grade around. Then, she asked whether the student knew why they hadn’t performed well and whether they’d taken advantage of available resources, like office hours, class discussions, and study groups.

How nudges work
Cohen’s email is an example of nudge designed to guide students towards certain behaviors, Becky Supiano writes for the Chronicle of Higher Education. Nudges are meant to identify and support students who need help, sometimes before the students realize they need help, says Lindsay Page, a nudge researcher and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

Nudging, which is rooted in behavioral economics, considers the cognitive, emotional, and social factors that prevent people from accomplishing goals. A nudge reviews the interaction to minimize the effect of these factors and ultimately help people take desirable action. In higher ed,  nudges  can take the form of texts, emails, alerts, or even letters that encourage students to complete tasks that help them succeed, such as completing enrollment or  showing up to advising appointments .

Gather & Share
"Building Curiosity - What Questions Are You Asking?"
The FCTL is offering "  Gather & Share  " events on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, from 3:45pm - 4:45pm in ADUC 310. The objective is to have a "topic" area and share a some tools, tips and strategies.

The Next Gather & Share Event:
Topic: Building Curiosity - "What Questions Are You Asking?"
When: Tuesday, February 18, 2020; 3:45pm – 4:45pm
Where: ADUC 310
Educator: FCTL
Synopsis: Join FCTL in exploring "Building curiosity – What questions are you asking? ”. Come ready to “chat it up” with your colleagues on this relevant and important topic. Refreshments will be served.
Registration: To register click here
Blackboard Buzz
How to Set Your Notification Options
It is important to remind students to complete their tasks on time. It is a good idea to give them a proper reminder. Check Blackboard’s Notification Options, So that you know how to customize the reminder.

Always know what is happening in your courses by setting Blackboard's notification system to alert you when events occur. You can receive alerts for events such as when new content is posted, when new discussion board postings are submitted, when a test is available and much more. Alerts can be sent to your course homepage, your email address, and to your mobile device.

This YouTube video demonstrates you how to set your notification Options. Email msuonline@moreheadstate.edu for additional information and on-campus support.
In-The-Know
What I Love About Teaching Campaign
Hello Educators!

Okay, We are looking for your response to this magical question:
"What do you love about teaching?"

Click the link below to share your response:
Call for Proposals: The 2020 Pedagogicon
May 15th, EKU
Proposals Due: February 16th

The conference theme, “ Students as Partners in Teaching and Learning,” encourages us to examine and promote students-as-partners strategies for teaching and learning that encourage deep, transferable academic experiences.
Do you have an exceptional strategy to share? Do you have a new theory or practice that might enhance teaching and learning, faculty development, educational practices, or student engagement at your institution and beyond? Presenters are encouraged to engage their audience, so preference will be given to those submissions that specify how this engagement will be provided. The conference will host an opening session on transparency in learning and teaching.
Threads might include but are not limited to:
  • Use of technology to enhance students-as-partners in teaching and learning
  • Creative instructional techniques that engage students in partnership experiences
  • Faculty development initiatives, programs, and processes that promote students-as-partners in teaching and learning
  • New ways to use Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) to enhance student partnerships in teaching and learning
  • Strategies for incorporating diversity, culturally responsive pedagogy, and/or inclusive excellence into students-as-partners teaching and learning models and designs
  • High-Impact Educational Practices that enhance students as partners in teaching and learning
  • Student perspectives on partnerships in teaching and learning.

Presenters will also have the opportunity to submit their work for consideration in the annual Proceedings, to be published in late 2020. 

Submit proposals online at  https://studio.eku.edu/pedagogicon-proposal-form.
 
Graduate Student Regional Research Conference:
Balancing Graduate School with Mental Wellness

February 27-28, 2020  

University of Louisville/Louisville, KY 

For more information:
19th Annual  Posters-at-the-Capitol
March 5th, Frankfort

Posters-at-the-Capitol  , an event hosted collaboratively by Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University, is intended to help members of Kentucky’s legislature and the Governor better understand the importance of involving undergraduates in research, scholarly, and creative work. It provides undergraduates with the opportunity to engage in scholarship, research, and creative work that is important to their educational experience and professional development. We encourage faculty to have their students participate in  Posters-at-the-Capitol to help those in Kentucky who fund higher education understand why these experiences are so important. 
 
 
Innovative Teaching & Learning Conference:
Lighting the Way to Deeper Learning

March 31, 2020
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Teaching & Learning Innovation, UT Knoxville’s home for faculty and educational development, is pleased to present its Innovative Teaching & Learning Conference 2020.
This conference highlights the importance of good teaching in higher education settings by featuring the innovative teaching practices that occur in college classrooms across the state of Tennessee.
 
 
Ambassadors for Excellence in Teaching
Morehead State University