Why is your course relevant?
As experts in our fields, we can see the connections between the concepts in our course, future coursework and professions of our students. However, do we take the time to clarify the purpose of the classwork and assessments that our students complete? Do we have our students reflect on their own journey through our courses?
Exercise Program
This summer FLEX Gym encourages you to strengthen your core by reflecting on a modules and/or the competencies of a course you are currently teaching in Spring 2024.
Ask yourself:
- What is the purpose of the course?
- What is the purpose of each module and/or competency of the course?
- In each module, what key assignments and assessments align to that purpose?
- Where can you build more ties for students to see the purpose of the course as well as the competencies within the modules, assignments, and assessments that they already complete?
Get in some extra crunches to make your core rock solid by creating an end of semester discussion or assignment that has students reflect this SPRING before we leave for summer. Use this discussion/assignment to have students provide reflections on where they have come so far in the course and how they plan to continue their learning. This discussion/assignment will allow them the opportunity to reflect on their own learning journey as well as providing you a chance to evaluate if the purpose for your course is coming through to your students.
By sweating through this exercise program, your teaching muscles will be well on their way to six pack status while ensuring that your students see the purpose of the module or competency that you are teaching.
Program
- Workout 1: Stretch for success.
- Think about your course and what three key take aways you want students to have by the end of the course? List all three.
- Read through the reflection discussion/assignment your students completed on the course. Identify themes with in the responses.
- Compare your three key take aways to the themes that you noticed in your student responses. Then determine which category you fall into:
- All three align: Let’s look for ways to trim the fat in your course to have that core shine.
- One or two align: Your core is peeking through let’s put in some work to strengthen a showcase your hard work in the coming Fall.
- No alignment: Not to worry! This summer workout will have your core ready to go for the Fall semester.
- Workout 2: Make a plan.
- Now that you have an idea of which of your three key take aways students are seeing in your course its time to make a plan on how you want to tone and strengthen your core.
- Start by looking at your course and the competencies that you are covering.
- Reflect on how your three key take aways relate to the competencies in your course.
- Identify where in your course those competencies are being covered. If you cannot find a direct correlation then you have found a perfect place to start in building your core.
- Now that you have found where those course competencies and take aways align, you can build a plan to strengthen this part of your core.
- For example, Let’s say you have a four different modules that contain the competencies that align to your three key take aways.
- You can make a plan to review your four modules over the next 8 weeks or if you are feeling like you can dedicate more time try a 4 week plan instead.
- For example, Let’s say you have a four different modules that contain the competencies that align to your three key take aways.
- Now that you have an idea of which of your three key take aways students are seeing in your course its time to make a plan on how you want to tone and strengthen your core.
- Workouts 3 – 8: Enact the plan and feel the burn.
- Over your next workouts you will be analyzing, tailoring, and building modules, assignments, and assessments to enhance the three key take aways you selected which correlate to your course competencies.
- Note: You can always resurrect an assignment from a past course. Identifying past activities/assignments that align to one of your three key take aways and modernize for your current course. Breathing new life into an old activity/assignment will have you increasing the weight your teaching muscles can lift.
Modifications
Woking out solo can feel alone so grab a “workout buddy!” Partner with another faculty member and discuss the purpose of a module or competency in each other’s courses. Together you can collaborate and share ideas while working up a sweat.
Equipment
If you are looking to use some new equipment try out FlipGrid. This is a video feature for students to submit and share their reflections on their learning, you might create a FlipGrid Discussion in Canvas. Make sure to share a “how to” video with your students.
Swole and Ready to Roll
Once you have completed the exercise program remember to celebrate your hard work with a short dance party or a small treat. After this summer workout you will be ready to crush this semester with your mighty teaching muscles.