Ideation Studio is a series of hands-on workshops intended to help researchers, faculty, staff and students work together to solve Alaska challenges across silos. Participants network with others, come up with new ideas, expand on existing ideas and discover how…
In this Teaching Tip we will explore the transformative potential of Problem-Based Learning (PBL), an approach that flips traditional teaching on its head by starting with real-world, ill-structured problems before mastering the basics. From its origins in medical education to its versatility across disciplines and modalities, PBL empowers students to take ownership of their learning. Beyond the development of critical thinking skills, students will also practice empathy, collaboration, and self-reflection through problem solving activities. Drawing from personal experiences, historical insights, and practical strategies, this article provides a roadmap for incorporating PBL into your courses. Whether you’re curious about small, actionable steps or seeking to reimagine an entire course, this Teaching Tip will help you think about your courses through the context of problem solving and critical thinking.
This month we are participating in Inktober. The challenge of consistently responding to a daily drawing prompt throughout the month. “Inktober is a month long art challenge created by artist Jake Parker that is focused on improving skill and developing…
What if the key to deeper, more meaningful learning lies right in front of us—in the places we live, work, and play? In Learning in Context: How Place-Based Learning Fosters Deeper Connections explores how connecting students to their local environments and communities can transform the learning experience. Drawing on both research and my own teaching experience, this article offers practical strategies for integrating place-based learning into your courses, whether you teach in person or online. From local data collection to virtual tours, place-based learning taps into students’ lived experiences, making course content more relevant, engaging, and impactful. Ready to explore how this approach can be incorporated into your teaching? Dive in to discover the profound effects of learning in context.
While many courses at UAF are offered and listed as asynchronous, nothing prevents the incorporation of optional synchronous sessions. This teaching tip offers advice on a variety of different kinds of synchronous activities that you might consider as adding to your course as supplemental ways for students to connect with each other, you, and the content.
Exploring HyFlex courses at UAF, this article details student experiences, addresses challenges, offers strategies, and highlights the support available for faculty embracing this flexible, multimodal approach to teaching and learning.