In this article, I argue that we need to reposition how we think about and talk about assessment from a faculty-focused task to a student-centered process. To demonstrate the impact of this change in thinking, I will share a case study from my time as a basic course director and chair that illustrates the benefits of understanding assessment as a…

This study investigates the effectiveness of a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) chatbot to enhance learning and engagement in a self-paced, asynchronous online R programming course. To contextualize the development and potential of RAG chatbots, we conducted a literature review on existing approaches and their use in educational settings.…

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) courses. These courses provide research opportunities for many more students than are typically exposed to traditional independent research experiences, including women, historically underrepresented groups in science, and…

Teacher-student interaction is critical for providing learners with support and maintaining effective communication during the teaching process. The online teacher-student interaction mode, has posed challenges to the effectiveness of online classes. However, how to conduct effective interaction in online classes to improve learning outcomes…

In academic continuing education, the transfer of learning from an academic setting to the workplace is critical. Current research on transfer of training has focused less on the situative determinants for such transfer, and how these are construed by the learner. We assume an actor-oriented perspective on transfer for investigating the individual…

Limited literature has investigated the effects of state and institutional merit-based financial aid on student choice of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) major fields, an unintended consequence with important implications. By leveraging nationally representative longitudinal data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students,…

This multiple case study explored the differences in online course design across disciplines using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework as a lens. While the CoI framework was developed to be generic, research on the CoI and disciplinary differences has called for changes to the framework, yet none of the studies have considered the…

Writing intensive (WI) courses are well-situated to support students' counterargument skill development, a key element for both academic and civic discourse in today's socio-political environment. However, while many researchers celebrate multi-faceted argumentation, few studies look beyond a dichotomous or "two-sided" approach in…

Communication scholars have significantly advanced knowledge across various subjects and in basic course classrooms, yet face obstacles in conveying their importance to students and wider communities. Challenges like COVID-19 disruptions, inadequate teacher pipelines, and limited diversity in education hinder interdisciplinary communication,…

The Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive (ICAP) Framework (Chi & Wylie, 2014) is used to review and develop active learning in higher education. It is a hierarchical model based on overt behaviours seen by the teacher in the classroom. This principle is acknowledged as a limitation, especially in the case of online modes of study. In…

This article explores the content application of the ILA "General Principles for Leadership Programs." Introducing the leadership content design (LCD) framework, the authors explore leadership content application through a robust co-curricular example of the Hargis Leadership Institute. The article demonstrates a pathway for developing…

One of our favorite face-to-face teaching frameworks is "Launch, Explore, Summarize" (LES). However, transitioning LES activities to online settings challenged us to reimagine how learning and its interactions could be supported in this new environment. We explore our experience transitioning an LES lesson on the quadrilateral hierarchy…

Background: Ungrading is an innovative approach to assessment that relies on feedback rather than numerical grades to deprioritize (or remove) grades, but that has gone relatively unexplored in the psychology classroom. Objective: The current study examined student perceptions of ungrading in three psychology courses. Method: Using an inductive…

Faculty transitions often challenge one's mental health, wellbeing, and identity. Using Schlossberg's theoretical framework, this phenomenological study sought to examine transition experiences of faculty during the implementation of an interdisciplinary course focused on happiness, positivity, and wellbeing and how it can inform faculty…

To science instructors, it may seem obvious that understanding cell theory is essential for understanding how some diseases spread and can be treated. For students, these connections are often unclear at best. For some students, this knowledge might help propel their interest in life science and keep them motivated to engage and persist even when…