Back to Class Teaching Toolkit Center for Innovative and Transformative Instruction (CITI)

Welcome Back, Esteemed WSSU Faculty! As you start a new semester, here are some teaching reminders and resources to provide a successful start for your scholars. We have also added in a few "music" breaks along the way.

Enjoy a music break from the theme song from "Welcome Back"

Starting a new semester can be stressful. In all of the excitement and preparation, the days quickly lead up to the FIRST DAY OF CLASS (FDOC). Here are some quick tips to assist you in preparation.

Writing Course Outcomes: A Pedagogy and Andragogy Best Practice

Clear course outcomes give students a roadmap for success, showing exactly what they’ll achieve and how they’ll measure their progress.

Enjoy a music break: Adult Education by Hall and Oates

Looking for some unique First Day of Class Activities? Try something new and different to get your students acclimated and interested.

Reflective writing is a type of writing where you think critically about your experiences, observations, or learning and then express those thoughts in a structured way.

In education, reflective writing helps students deepen understanding, identify strengths and weaknesses, and make meaning from learning experiences. Examples include journals, learning logs, and responses to prompts like *“What was the most challenging part of today’s lesson, and why?”*

Enjoy a music break from The Supremes: "Reflections"

LEARNING TAKES TIME. The Kirkpatrick Model Helps Us Measure Where Learning becomes Impact.

Teaching Online? Or Online Teaching? There is a difference.

Don't just put content in Canvas for students to access. True online teaching is interactive, engaging, and gives a student a sense of community. If your students just access information and complete assignments. That is not excellence in online teaching.

This year as a part of our ACUE Partnership, faculty are able to have access to the ACUE Commons. The ACUE Commons is where all faculty will access the ACUE Quick Study courses, and for faculty who are certified or are pursuing certification in ACUE’s Effective Teaching Practice Framework, you will have additional opportunities to join a national network of faculty in this online community designed to help you connect, learn, and grow.

Access to the catalog of Quick Study courses that help you gain confidence with cutting-edge topics, including:

• Writing Effective AI prompts
• Leveraging AI to Develop Course Resources
• Teaching with AI Inclusive and AI Resistant Learning Experiences
• Empowering Students to Use AI Responsibly
• Introduction to Generative AI
• Transforming Assignments in the Age of AI
• Establishing a Culture of Constructive Conversations
• Developing Students’ Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills
• Developing Students’ Media Literacy
• Embedding Career Guidance into Your Course
• Integrating Open Educational Resources (OER)
• Preparing Students for Experiential Learning
• Fostering Connections: Implementing Learning Communities in Your Course
• Designing with Purpose: Authentic Tasks and Assessments
• Connecting with Alumni and Peers
• The Wellness Lens: Supporting Students’ Mental Well-Being

Access to any ACUE pathway courses you have completed, plus powerful search functionality to help you find any resources you’re looking for in seconds *

*These features of the ACUE Commons are limited to faculty who are certified or pursuing certification in ACUE’s Effective Teaching Practice Framework.

Going Digital: Students Love to Engage with Digital Tools

Looking for Digital Tools to use in Instruction. We are an Adobe Creative Campus, but here are some other tools you can consider. They have free applications also.

Enjoy a music break from Zapp and Roger called COMPUTER LOVE

There are many FREE Learning Style Inventories Online. Here is one below.

Enjoy a music break from the Bee Gees called "Stayin' Alive"

What is My Name?

Knowing a student’s name is important because it’s one of the simplest but most powerful ways to build connection and trust.

Making your Classroom an Active Space for Learning

Active learning is a teaching approach where students actively engage with the material through discussion, problem-solving, writing, or hands-on activities, rather than passively receiving information from a lecture.

IMPACT, IMPACT, IMPACT: It Makes a Difference!

Using High Impact Practices are a KEY to Student Success.

Evaluating Your Own Courses? Use Backward Design.

Backward design is a curriculum planning approach where you start by identifying the end goals (what you want students to learn) and then work backward to plan instruction and assessments that align with those goals.

Let's Not Leave Any Student Out. Be Inclusive in Our Teaching

Let's Try Some Collaboration!

Collaborative Learning is an instructional methods where students work together to solve problems, complete projects, or discuss concepts. It’s a “high-impact practice” because it:

✔️Increases engagement.

✔️Builds teamwork and communication skills.

✔️Improves retention anderstanding discussing with peers.

✔️Fosters diverse perspectives.

The Power of an Exit Ticket

Exit tickets are a powerful tool in teaching and learning because they provide immediate feedback about what students have learned and how they are thinking. Here’s a detailed bre9akdown of their importance:

Teachers can use the data from exit tickets to adjust future lessons, reteach concepts, or provide additional support where needed. It’s a form of formative assessment that guides teaching in real-time.

Exit tickets allow teachers to quickly assess whether students have grasped the day’s lesson. They help identify misconceptions or areas of confusion before moving on to new material.

Students reflect on what they’ve learned, which reinforces understanding and helps with retention. Reflecting on learning also encourages metacognition—thinking about one’s own thinking.

Exit tickets give students a chance to express their thoughts, questions, or feelings about the lesson. This helps teachers understand the student perspective and fosters engagement.

They are simple, quick to complete, and non-threatening, making them a low-stress way for students to demonstrate learning without a formal test.

By analyzing exit ticket responses, teachers can tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners in the classroom. Collecting exit tickets regularly provides a record of student growth, highlighting trends in understanding and areas that may need more focus. Finally, exit tickets are important because they "close the feedback loop" between teaching and learning, ensuring instruction is responsive and student-centered.

Embracing Artificial Intelligence

3️⃣ Ways AI will change the workforce. Understanding that AI💫 has the ability to enhance human capabilities💡 by automating routine and complex tasks ⏰️, freeing people to focus on creativity and strategic thinking and building authentic relationships.

Is all of the talk about AI "blinding" you with science? Take a music break.

As you prepare for this academic year, remember these statements:

• Professors, you’re the spark—this semester will blaze with brilliance!
• You rule the room, you shape the future—get ready for an amazing semester!
• Your influence is powerful—this semester will prove it!
• Lead boldly, teach greatly!
• Professors, you inspire greatness—get ready for a winning semester!

Enjoy a music break from Tears for Fears called "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"