Category: Articles

As educators, we are often exploring the science of how learning works, and how teaching can be most effective. Naturally, we want our students to absorb and retain information at the highest rate possible. It is therefore valuable to explore the science of memory and retention of information. When do the things we learn become encoded in our memory and how can we maximize retention through our understanding of how the brain works? It turns out that the brain needs to be in a period of restfulness in order to have the capacity to consolidate new information.

Did you know that you have access to resources that you can use to make your course content more relevant and interesting? Sometimes available resources get lost in the mix, so we’d like to highlight a few of them for you now. 

We most often think of testing as a way to assess what was learned by a student. And it is. But it is also more than that. The act, itself, of being “tested” also produces measurable learning and long-term retention of material and may even be more effective at long-term retention than studying is. The following article explores this idea, and gives insight into how testing can be used to improve learning in the classroom, as well as improving outcomes for students studying on their own.

Mindset science reveals that students’ beliefs about their abilities strongly influence their learning motivation (Dweck, 2006). Students’ academic mindsets are crucial for their achievements in their classes. Research reveals that teachers can significantly improve student mindsets, leading to better perseverance and learning outcomes, by adapting their instructional practices (Farrington et al., 2012).  

Do you want to captivate your students with high-quality, engaging content while saving time on lesson preparation? Integrating LinkedIn Learning videos into Canvas offers faculty a powerful way to enhance their courses. By embedding these professionally produced videos, instructors can boost student engagement with visually appealing content that encourages interaction and deeper learning.

As 2024 draws to a close, the Learning and Educational Center (LEC) proudly reflects on an extraordinary year filled with many achievements and milestones. This year has been especially significant, highlighted by an increase in faculty participation in our annual Teaching and Learning Conference, along with significantly increased participation in workshop offerings, as well as our collaborative Generative AI Series among many other accomplishments. This success is a testament to our growing engagement within our NSU teaching and learning community.

The LEC Instructional Design team authored several articles in 2024 tackling topics such as Strategies to Foster Students’ Mental Well-being, Fostering Students’ Critical Thinking, or Teaching and Learning with Podcasts. If you’ve missed this wealth of information, we encourage you to take a look!

This year, the LEC hosted its third annual Teaching and Learning Conference, “Raising the Bar: Educating the Modern Learner,” with hundreds of NSU Educators attending. Our popular Thank-A-Professor program was a hit, receiving over 2,000 thank you messages. Additionally, our DesignLink program continued to thrive, connecting Instructional Designers with faculty to enhance course design and materials across the University. Learn more about each of these initiatives and how they are making a difference in our NSU community.

This year’s professional development opportunities continued to be diverse and impactful, featuring a range of workshops, trainings, and rich discussions led by LEC staff and University partners. The LEC was honored to host University experts who shared their knowledge in various areas, such as student engagement and Generative AI.