The Points Don't Matter

Last week, I read the same answer to an essay question from three students in a row. Well, not exactly the same answer, but darn close. The three answers contained the same language, number of sentences, and general idea. I'm guessing that happened because students used generative artificial intelligence to write these short answers. I added essay questions to all my quizzes to ensure students demonstrated their understanding of the material  in their own words . I realize those essay questions no longer achieve my goal, so it's time to rethink. One option when suspecting that students are using AI to create their work is to use an AI detector tool like Turnitin's AI Content Detector (which currently comes with a subscription to Turnitin) or GPTZero, which was developed to sniff out the use of ChatGPT. This blog post explores whether these detection tools actually solve the problem.  A little recent history in our own backyard is helpful. Last year, Maricopa County Communi

It's springtime! 💐 The trees are growing leaves and blossoming flowers. Nurturing trees with mulch, fertilizer, and extra water helps them grow. The same is true for people. We need nutrients and water to grow, but additionally, we need stimulation to keep our minds growing and flourishing. Being expected to think critically stimulates our minds and creates growth, and the ability to think critically is indispensable in our information-rich world. Critical thinking is widely recognized as a cornerstone of higher education, empowering students to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information effectively. As educators, fostering critical thinking skills among students is a fundamental responsibility. This blog post explores effective strategies for teaching critical thinking in higher education classes. One seminal study by Paul and Elder (2008) underscores the importance of explicit instruction in critical thinking. The authors advocate for a structured approach that teaches stude

As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, I thought discussing the fairy tale of leprechauns and the value of real-life authentic assessments would be fun. Let’s start with leprechauns. Did you know these magical little people "existed" before St. Patrick's Day even came to be? Leprechauns were initially written about in 19th-century Irish fables where they are described as short men who just happened to be exceptional shoemakers. After making money, they were said to hide their coins in pots of gold at the end of rainbows. I can’t help but smile. Just an aside, although leprechauns have been spoken of in literature since the 1800s, they’ve only been associated with St. Patrick's Day since 1959, when Disney released a film called Darby O'Gill and the Little People . While leprechauns dwell in the fairy world, authentic assessments keep our students grounded in reality. These assessments involve applying knowledge and skills in real-world situations, scenarios, or problem

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s hard not to think about love and chocolate–or, in my case, the love of chocolate. Those heart-shaped boxes with chocolate delicacies keep popping into my mind. I prefer the ones with the chocolate cream filling or nuts. By far, though, my favorite kind of chocolate is plain, rich, dark chocolate. Do you like your chocolate sweet and creamy, bold with a little bite, nutty and salty, or in the form of a Sprinkles cupcake? We all have our favorites, and there’s no convincing someone otherwise. And how about those you love? When you discover how someone likes their chocolate, how do you satisfy their preferences and still be true to yours? These questions may be getting a bit too serious for the topic of chocolate, so let’s make a shift. I can equate chocolate to just about anything, so today, let's relate chocolate to communication and how we might adjust to each other and enjoy a different way to interact. In the communication discip

A little bit of resolve is what I need now Pin me down, show me how Watch the Foo Fighters "Resolve" Music Video The beginning of a new year is the ideal time to make changes because we naturally pause, look back at the past year and take in a big-picture view of where we’re headed. Have you set any meaningful goals for 2024? Or did they get thrown out with the half-eaten sweets and crumpled wrapping paper and bows? Truth is, very few people take New Year’s resolutions seriously. According to a recent study, only 8 to 12% of people who make New Year’s resolutions actually keep them, and less than half of us bother to make them at all. As Dave Grohl wrote, “A little bit of resolve is what I need now.” I’m not talking about a carpet cleaner. This is the time of year we make resolutions, but what is a resolution, and why do most fail? Resolve is the root of resolution. Resolve means to settle or find a solution, to decide firmly on a course of action, or to have a firm determina

Keyboards and touchscreens dominate our daily lives, and lately, the debate over the effectiveness of handwriting versus typing for learning has gained some attention. Are there cognitive implications of these two distinct modes of note-taking? Let’s consider some research surrounding handwriting and typing and their impact on memory retention, comprehension, and overall learning outcomes. The Cognitive Benefits of Handwriting and Typing Handwriting engages different cognitive processes compared to typing. A study by Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014), found that students who took notes by hand retained information better than those who typed. The researchers proposed that physically writing information helps with encoding and understanding, improving long-term retention. Additionally, a study published in Psychological Science by Mangen et al. (2015) discovered that the tactile feedback associated with handwriting, such as the feeling of pen on paper, stimulates the brain in ways that typ

Annotating, the act of adding notes or comments to texts, whether in printed books, digital documents, or handwritten notes, is often underestimated in its ability to boost learning. It's not merely a technique for marking up your materials; it's a powerful tool that can enhance comprehension, retention, and engagement with the content. In this blog post, we'll explore how annotating can significantly increase learning outcomes and why it's a skill worth introducing in your courses. Active Engagement with Content One of the critical advantages of annotating is that it transforms passive reading or listening into active engagement. When you annotate, you're no longer a passive recipient of information but an active participant in the learning process. This increased engagement helps you process and understand the material more effectively. Focus and Concentration Annotating encourages focus and concentration. As you interact with the text, your mind is less likely to