17 ToP SoTL Articles

We are delighted to share our 30th podcast and 57th blog, thank you for continuing to join us. Since we are at the end of the calendar year, we thought we would share a List of 17 SoTL Articles compiled by Faculty Focus: Higher Ed Teaching Strategies journal. We will share two articles in particular, A Challenge to Current Grading Practices by Weimer, M, (2017); and Towards a ‘Positive U’ by Kennette and Myatt (2016).

A Challenge to Current Grading Practices, details how a scholar challenges conventional thinking on current practices surrounding grading. He advocates that students should be much more involved in assessing their own work and defending the judgments they make. He is also a proponent of creating authentic assessment opportunities that would allow students to use technology and tools of production currently used in most workplaces.

Whereas, in ‘Towards a Positive U’, the authors note, the power of positive psychology concepts such as mindfulness, positive emotions, gratitude, and growth mindset in potentially improving the college classroom by enhancing the academic, social, and emotional functioning of the stressed-out college student. The findings show that teaching some of these social and emotional skills can enhance the teaching and learning experience for both student and instructor.

Both articles offer ideas for changing classroom practice. For example, when thinking about current grading practices you could:

1. Create an environment that students can learn from failed events;

2. Allow opportunities for false starts and bumbling attempts; and

3. Create final assessments that allow students to be tested in more authentic ways.

Some suggestions from Kennette and Myatt include:

1. Develop a “positive” syllabus or course outline;

2. Focus on student strengths;

3. Teach students about mindfulness;

4. Build intrinsic motivation;

5. Encourage a growth mindset; and

6. Practice gratitude.