CTL is currently undergoing changes, and some tools on this page are under maintenance. We appreciate your patience during this transition. If you need immediate support, please submit a consult request here.

Tag engaging students

Emerging ideas, Teaching Tips

Introducing ArcticVū: UAF’s Virtual Production Studio

A still shot from Media Day with the UAF Girls Volleyball team in the ArcticVū studio.

At UAF’s Center for Teaching and Learning, we see video not just as a technical tool but as a way to transform teaching and research. Our newest resource, the ArcticVū virtual production studio, uses LED wall technology to place faculty, students, and guests into realistic, dynamic environments—from Arctic field sites to immersive classrooms. Built to expand access and spark creativity, ArcticVū makes cinematic-quality media production available to the entire UAF community.

Sean Holland
August 27, 2025

Teaching Tips, Tools and how to (tips)

What I love about PlayPosit

UAF Associate Professor of Art Mareca Guthrie teaches Beginning Drawing, which consistently has close to 100 enrollments. She has been experimenting with interactive video for several years and shares eight things she loves about PlayPosit.

Sean Holland
October 1, 2021

Community Engagement, Teaching Tips

Addressing discrimination in learning environments

Abstract Portraits of Black Americans of all skin tones

We can never guarantee total safety or know what feels safe to all students. However, we can do our best to promote conditions of relative safety. Why is establishing relative safety in our learning environments so important? Let’s start with…

UAF CTL Staff
September 28, 2021

Teaching Tips, Tools and how to (tips)

Reinvigorate online discussions with Hypothesis

Hypothesis is a collaborative annotation tool now available in all UAF Canvas courses. Hypothesis merges the tasks of reading and discussion through the act of annotation, allowing students to hold contextualized discussions and share their reading experience.

Nathan Feemster
September 13, 2021

Best practices, Teaching Tips

Support online class engagement through guided communication

An animated GIF of a cat typing on a laptop

Students are more likely to engage in online courses when they understand expectations for communication. To support course engagement, instructors can create both formal and social discussion spaces, share expectations, and affirm student contributions.

Elle Fournier
August 27, 2021
2 Comments

Best practices, Teaching Tips

What is CircleIn and when will students have access?

UAF is expanding its pilot study of CircleIn, a supported online tool for peer study groups. Starting in fall 2021, CircleIn will be available to all students at UAF.

Dan LaSota
May 25, 2021

Emerging ideas, Teaching Tips

Managing large online classes

Two people sitting in front of an online meeting

With strategic course design, it is possible in large classes to provide a strong instructor presence, give expert-level feedback on subjective assignments, and maintain a quality learning experience for students.

Dan LaSota
December 14, 2020

Pedagogy, Teaching Tips

Refresh your course in three simple steps

A person presses a reload sign in a virtual-reality-like environment.

Course revisions can be daunting, particularly this year, but a quick course refresh is achievable in three simple steps: start at the beginning, support failure, and remember -- less is more!

Jenn Pedersen
December 1, 2020

Best practices, Teaching Tips

Strategies for emotionally connecting with students

Emotionally connecting with students supports engagement and helps ensure high-quality teaching and learning outcomes. Here are some strategies to help students develop connections with the course content, the instructor and their peers.

UAF CTL Staff
July 21, 2020

Emerging ideas, Teaching Tips, Tools and how to (tips)

Fostering engagement in online discussion

Creating active discussions in a course can be challenging. In times of COVID-19, fostering that space for community exploration and making connections between content and the current world can become the anchor that keeps the momentum.

UAF CTL Staff
May 19, 2020

Best practices, Teaching Tips

Three ways to encourage student resilience

Today’s college students are excessively stressed. These suggested strategies can make your course less stressful without reducing rigor.

UAF CTL Staff
March 9, 2020

Best practices, Teaching Tips

Creating a culture of mentorship

A few women sitting around a table with computers

Explore the value of mentorship in academia and get ideas for how you can intentionally promote peer mentorship via course design and departmental initiatives.

UAF CTL Staff
February 17, 2020