Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education

Letter from the Editors

James DeVita; Anthony Atkins — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Students’ Use and Perceptions of a Due Date Extension Policy

Stefanie Boswell — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Students may sometimes benefit from due date extensions due to significant extenuating circumstances. These circumstances, though, may not be supported by documentation as required by university policies. Given this, I implemented a flexible due date policy called the Pause Button (PB) in a 16-week behavioral sciences research methods course. Students could use the PB to extend two due dates up to seven days each if they did not qualify for other university-approved extensions. Twenty-three students completed a survey about their use of the PB and perceptions of its helpfulness and benefits. Overall, students perceived the PB as very helpful, improving their ability to learn and complete greater quality coursework. Moreover, they perceived that it allowed them to better manage their academic workload, personal responsibilities, and stress. One of the PB’s perceived benefits, though, was dependent upon the assessment to which it was applied. This paper also suggests concerns for instructors who are considering implementation of a PB policy. It also contains recommendations for its use.

Using Design Thinking to Solve Real-World Problems

Jill Waity, Alicia Sellon, Bailey Williams — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

This paper presents an innovative pedagogical model that incorporates components of team-based learning, problem-based learning, and design thinking in the context of a community-engaged applied learning experience. Students participating in this project build 21^st century skills needed to be successful in their future educational and career pursuits. Undergraduate sociology and master's level social work students partnered with community organizations to solve a real-world problem for that organization. They were coached through the process by their instructors. Before participating in the project, students reflected on what they hoped to get out of the experience. After completion, they reflected on the process and what they learned. Analyzing student reflection papers, we found three themes: excitement and fears, challenges and opportunities, and personal and professional growth. We conclude by describing how instructors can incorporate aspects of this model into their own classroom, and the importance of teamwork skills, design thinking skills, and meaningful community engagement.

Indigenous cultures and communities in higher education teaching and learning

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Our initial impetus for this project stems from the development of UNCP’s Indigenous Cultures & Communities (ICC) graduation requirement and the efforts of individual faculty representing disciplines in the arts, education, humanities, library, and nursing to redesign class activities and courses and share models and templates for readers’ use and adaptation in incorporating Indigenous-centered pedagogies in their own courses. We have curated our practical and philosophical methods for engaging Indigenous knowledge and using Indigenous-centered pedagogies in college courses and curricula through the lens of faculty efforts to redesign their courses in support of a newly instituted graduation requirement focused on Indigenous cultures and communities.

Teaching Spirituality in Higher Education Graduate Programs

Ricardo Montelongo, Cherjanet — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

How has a profession centered on care become one struggling to sustain a core foundational principle – spiritual development of learners? This question provides critical reflection on teaching within higher education graduate programs. The authors use duoethnography to dialogue on what it means to develop a “pedagogy of spirituality” within their respective higher education graduate programs. Metaphysical and monastic philosophies provide the guiding and differing forces shaping our dialogue and pedagogical thoughts.

Incorporating Positive Psychology into the Post-Secondary Classroom

Beverley Myatt, Lynne N Kennette — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

The principles of positive psychology have been studied for many years, but it seems to be only recently that the benefits of these techniques are being accepted by the wider community of mainstream pedagogues. In this article, we describe the principles of positive psychology and then highlight its benefits for both students and instructors. Finally, we discuss strategies and tips for implementation in the higher education classroom, both in-person and online.