| Considerations for finals
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Happy November from the Provost’s Teaching Fellows!
This month’s Teaching Tips revolve around the upcoming end-of-semester and finals season. While faculty are often all too aware of the idiosyncrasies that may occur during this time, many of our undergraduates will be encountering these situations for the first time and may benefit from reminders and explanations. With this in mind, we have curated the following tips for supporting your students during finals:
Remind students that the finals schedule is different from the ordinary class schedule.
Many students assume that a final will be given at the same time they have class scheduled. The change in schedule can create challenges for working students, parenting students, and other students with unique demands. Consider communicating the exam date with your students early and often to ensure they are aware and planning for this change in their schedules.
Remember that international and out-of-state students may be battling air travel constraints.
Consider flexibility for your students with air travel plans. Remember that finals schedules aren’t available when students register; many students had to book flights far in advance and have both time and financial constrictions as they venture home. While this can be frustrating for faculty, it can be panic-inducing for students who desperately want to please both their families and their professors. Not all students have the financial flexibility to change their flights.
Check in on your students with accommodations through Disability & Access.
Depending on your end-of-course procedures and assessments, student accommodation needs may change, or may require more forethought and additional planning on your or the student’s ends. Checking in ahead of time can ensure that all students are accommodated appropriately without any last-minute requests or changes which may become difficult to adjust with short notice.
Consider online assessment as a flexible option.
Online assessments offer a way to accommodate a variety of students and their unique situations during this time of year. Students can take online assessments from anywhere, and timing can be more flexible or individualized if needed. Additionally, Canvas grading options can decrease the grading stress on faculty when used judiciously.
Remind your students about resources on campus!
Remind your students that there is an abundance of resources on campus that may be useful during this time in the semester, such as the Counseling and Mental Health Center, University Health Services, Sanger Learning Center, University Writing Center, UT Outpost, and other resources our students may need. Stressful, high-pressure times are often when students will need the most support, but can also be overwhelming to navigate if the student hasn’t engaged with that specific support in the past.
We know it’s a stressful time for both faculty and students, but we hope these tips are useful as you consider how to approach and support our students during the end-of-semester gauntlet. Wishing you a happy and healthy end of 2024!
Hook ‘em!
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Natalie Czimskey
Chair-Elect, Provost’s Teaching Fellows
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities
PTF Think Tank: Learning from Failure, November 19. We've all heard the phrase "Fail Forward" or "I have not failed, but just found 10,000 ways that won't work," but how much does that resonate in the classroom? Is there a way to teach, providing opportunities for safe failures without being punitive or negatively impacting the grade? After a bazillion years of teaching, I think so and look forward to having a fruitful conversation on cultivating an environment ripe for teaching, failing, and learning. This Think Tank will be facilitated by Ruth Shear (CNS). All instructors are welcome! RSVP here.
Save the Date: CTL Holiday House Party, December 11. Join us for a jolly celebration of instructors and staff who help build a supportive culture of teaching and learning at UT, at CTL's Holiday House Party! We are opening up our “house” for a festive event that promises fun, games, refreshments, door prizes and more. It will be the perfect pause from the inevitable December hustle and bustle. Come unwind, relax, and enjoy some holiday cheer with your colleagues! RSVP here.
Texas Teach-Up: Save the Date and Survey. Texas Teach-Up (TxTU) brings instructors from all colleges and schools together to celebrate and reflect upon their teaching practices. This year’s event takes place on February 25-26.
Additionally, if you have previously participated in Texas Teach-Up, please consider completing this student-created survey about the event and your experiences. The survey is designed to provide actionable recommendations for Texas Teach-Up to the CTL and PTF program. It is open to all UT faculty as well as any graduate student instructors or staff who have previously attended.
Accessible Pedagogy Conversations, Wednesdays at noon. Join us each Wednesday this fall semester from 12-1 PM on Zoom for Accessible Pedagogy Conversations. This informal, peer-directed space is open to all instructors who hope to share questions, strategies, and recommendations regarding accommodations and inclusion in learning environments. With the support of CTL, DCC, and D&A staff members, we will collectively explore new topics each week to enhance accessibility for all instructors and students. RSVP here.
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