Best Practices in Teaching & Learning

teaching

Best Practices in Teaching & Learning

This list is intentionally brief. If you need assistance or ideas for implementing any of these practices please reach out to MoodyCATE@austin.utexas.edu. We are happy to offer trainings or one-on-one consultations.

Assessment

Align assignments with course goals and outcomes
Offer multiple, varied, low stakes opportunities to demonstrate learning
Use clear evaluation criteria and / or rubrics
Provide clear, timely feedback
Invite feedback often and throughout the course
Offer a “time bank” that allows students to have a two-day grace period on one assignment or two one-day extensions for two different assignments

Accessibility

Use a variety of multimedia modalities & assessments (see Universal Design for Learning resources on right)
Record lectures and include transcripts and captions
Be sure documents, images, and links meet screen reader standards
Use free Open Education Resources whenever possible
Ensure materials are mobile-friendly
Use SSD's Accessibility Best Practices for Canvas to set up your course
Apply Accessibility Best Practices for Zoom

Building Community

Set community standards and / or class norms
Demonstrate and encourage social presence
Include multiple avenues for interaction and engagement
Model participation and behavioral expectations
Get to know your students and let them get to know you
Adopt a casual, conversational tone in announcements and messages
Allow time before, during, or after class for social conversation

Class Discussions

Foster equitable participation
Develop prompts that stimulate dialogue and exchange of ideas
Ask good questions - open-ended, encourage problem-solving
Be patient and make space, allow for pauses and silence
Allow for small group discussions with share outs
Stagger deadlines for initial posts and responses

Course Design

Define clear learning outcomes
Use Universal Design for Learning strategies for accessibility
Promote active learning (see resources on right)
Let design support and enhance delivery
Make the course interesting and engaging
Align all assessment, learning activities, and content with learning outcomes

Engaging Students

Create community agreements to build community
Use icebreakers early and throughout
Regularly solicit feedback and input to shape and improve class
Encourage attendance at office hours
Offer multiple ways to participate (hand raising, chat, discussion boards)
Use multiple means of representation, action, expression

Experiential Learning

Create opportunities for student autonomy and agency
Remember it’s about the process as much as the product
Give plenty of time in class for reflection and emphasize its importance
Assess student level and provide appropriate support and guidance
Align activities with learning outcomes

Group Work

Set expectations for respectful, professional collaboration
Assign roles to ensure engagement
Brainstorm qualities of an effective team, encourage group contracts
Use peer review and reflection in the assessment
Consider diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives when creating groups

Inclusive Teaching

Implement culturally responsive pedagogy (see resource on right)
Choose diverse content, voices, and examples and discuss their value
Use a variety of teaching methods and modalities
Offer multiple ways for students to demonstrate knowledge
Find opportunities for students to contribute to course content

Online Courses

Orient students to learning online
Communicate often and in a variety of ways
Create community online
Make the organization of the course deliberate and explicit
Ensure tools and technology are used effectively

More information on online courses:

Design your online course
Teach your online course

More Teaching Resources

Active Learning Strategies

For more ideas on incorporating active learning into your classroom download this helpful list.
Also, check out this resource on active learning while physically distancing.