Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support Blog

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning – Dual Coding: Helping Students Learn Through Words and Visuals

Dual coding combines verbal explanations with meaningful visuals to help students understand, organize, and remember complex ideas. Effective visuals add meaning, not just decoration, to learning too.

Blog Posted September 25, 2026

Finding the Glimmers - Blog Featured Image

Finding the Glimmers: Small Moments To Sustain Us This Semester

In this article, Gabrielle Likavec explores how educators can notice “glimmers”—small moments of connection, curiosity, success, and belonging—to balance challenges, strengthen well-being, and reconnect with the meaning of teaching.

Blog Posted August 21, 2026

My Accessibility Journey Pt 3 - Blog Featured Image

My Accessibility Journey, Part 3: Accessibility Is About People, Not Checklists

Accessibility is more than compliance—it's a mindset of reducing barriers, designing for diverse learners, and creating learning environments where every student can fully participate and belong.

Blog Posted July 24, 2026

My Accessibility Journey Part 2 - Blog Featured Image

My Accessibility Journey, Part 2: The Small Changes That Changed Everything

Accessibility is built through small, sustainable habits. Simple practices like headings, meaningful links, alt text, and consistent design improve learning, usability, and inclusion for all students.

Blog Posted July 01, 2026

My Accessibility Journey Pt 1 - Blog Featured Image

My Accessibility Journey, Part 1: When Accessibility Felt Bigger Than I Was

In this reflection, Gabrielle Likavec explores how accessibility shifted from an overwhelming checklist to an ongoing commitment. She emphasizes progress, shared responsibility, and designing learning experiences that reduce barriers for everyone.

Blog Posted June 12, 2026

Why Wait Time Still Matters in Today’s College Classroom - Blog Featured Image

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning - Why Wait Time Still Matters in Today’s College Classroom

Most instructors wait ~1 second after asking or answering questions, limiting student thinking. Research shows extending wait time to 3–7 seconds boosts participation, equity, and response quality, improving learning with simple pauses.

Blog Posted April 24, 2026

Digital Accessibility as a Teaching Practice

Digital accessibility becomes manageable when treated as an ongoing teaching practice, not a one-time fix. Small, weekly improvements—like clear structure, captions, and templates—reduce barriers, support learning, and make courses more inclusive and sustainable.

Blog Posted April 14, 2026

Encouraging Students to Complete end-of-course Surveys Blog Featured Image

Encouraging Students to Complete End-of-Course Surveys: Practical Strategies for Any Modality

Low response rates weaken end-of-course surveys. Students skip them due to time, value, or trust issues. Instructors can boost participation by explaining impact, giving class time, encouraging feedback, ensuring anonymity, and fostering a supportive climate.

Blog Posted April 10, 2026

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Take 2 for Teaching & Learning - Asking Better Questions: How Three Simple Types Transform Learning

In this episode of Take 2 for Teaching & Learning, we explore how three strategic types of questions: recall, analysis, and application, can unlock deeper thinking in the college classroom.

Blog Posted April 03, 2026

- Problem-Based Learning- Designing Courses Around Inquiry and Application - Blog Featured Image

Take 2 for Teaching and Learning - Problem-Based Learning: Designing Courses Around Inquiry and Application

PBL engages students in solving real-world problems, building critical thinking, collaboration, and self-directed learning. It shifts classrooms from lectures to inquiry, with instructors guiding research, analysis, and reflection.

Blog Posted March 20, 2026

When an Exam Doesn't Go as Planned - Blog Featured Image

When an Exam Doesn’t Go as Planned: Questions to Ask Before You Curve or Toss

Unexpected exam results—like many low scores or a missed question—should prompt item analysis. Review score patterns, question clarity, alignment with instruction, and difficulty before curving or adjusting to ensure fair grading.

Blog Posted March 13, 2026

Requiring Required Reading

Students often skip readings when they lack value, clarity, or support. Boost completion through clear purpose, accountability, manageable workloads, skill-building, and social learning.

Blog Posted February 20, 2026

AI Is Here - Now What? Students Speak Candidly on Ethics, Engagement, and Education

CMU students shared how they use AI daily for learning and efficiency, urging faculty to teach responsible use, design relevant, AI-resistant assignments, and maintain human connection in feedback to foster integrity and critical thinking.

Blog Posted April 11, 2025

Beyond the Grade - Using Rubrics to Support Learning - Blog Featured Image

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning - Beyond the Grade: Using Rubrics to Support Learning

In this episode of Take 2 for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Sarah Learman highlights the uses and benefits behind rubrics in the higher ed classroom.

Blog Posted January 23, 2026

Office Hours, Reimagined: From Underused Obligation to High-Impact Practice

Underused office hours reflect a perception gap, not low motivation. When intentionally framed, accessible, and relational, office hours become high-impact spaces that support learning, equity, belonging, and connection.

Blog Posted January 16, 2026

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning - Why Metacognition Matters: The importance of helping students learn how to learn

In this episode of Take 2 for Teaching & Learning, Dr. Sarah Learman highlights the importance of metacognitive practices in teaching and learning.

Blog Posted January 12, 2026

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Take 2 for Teaching and Learning - Gallery Walks: How to Get Students Moving and Learning, Together

Blog Posted November 21, 2025

Take 2 for Teaching and Learning - Student Exemplars: A Powerful Tool for Learning

Student exemplars clarify expectations, model quality work, and build confidence. Used thoughtfully, they guide reflection, promote self-regulated learning, and help students reach higher levels of achievement.

Blog Posted November 14, 2025

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning: Concept Mapping

Gabrielle Likavec demonstrates how to use concept mapping as an engaging visual strategy to help students make meaningful connections between ideas, deepen understanding, and develop critical thinking skills across disciplines, in just about two minutes.

Blog Posted October 21, 2025

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 3.0 in Action: Igniting Learner Joy and Agency

UDL 3.0 encourages faculty to reimagine classrooms as spaces of connection, curiosity, and belonging—where students thrive not only because of what they learn, but also how they learn.

Blog Posted October 17, 2025

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Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support Blog

Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support Blog

Recent posts

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning – Dual Coding: Helping Students Learn Through Words and Visuals

Finding the Glimmers: Small Moments To Sustain Us This Semester

My Accessibility Journey, Part 3: Accessibility Is About People, Not Checklists

My Accessibility Journey, Part 2: The Small Changes That Changed Everything

My Accessibility Journey, Part 1: When Accessibility Felt Bigger Than I Was

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning - Why Wait Time Still Matters in Today’s College Classroom

Digital Accessibility as a Teaching Practice

Encouraging Students to Complete End-of-Course Surveys: Practical Strategies for Any Modality

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning - Asking Better Questions: How Three Simple Types Transform Learning

Take 2 for Teaching and Learning - Problem-Based Learning: Designing Courses Around Inquiry and Application

When an Exam Doesn’t Go as Planned: Questions to Ask Before You Curve or Toss

Requiring Required Reading

AI Is Here - Now What? Students Speak Candidly on Ethics, Engagement, and Education

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning - Beyond the Grade: Using Rubrics to Support Learning

Office Hours, Reimagined: From Underused Obligation to High-Impact Practice

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning - Why Metacognition Matters: The importance of helping students learn how to learn

Take 2 for Teaching and Learning - Gallery Walks: How to Get Students Moving and Learning, Together

Take 2 for Teaching and Learning - Student Exemplars: A Powerful Tool for Learning

Take 2 for Teaching & Learning: Concept Mapping

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 3.0 in Action: Igniting Learner Joy and Agency

Located in Park Library 413

Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support Blog

Recent posts

Located in Park Library 413

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