Teaching Tips: Creating a positive learning environment

Holding Virtual Office Hours Using Bongo and WebEx
Similar to in-person office hours, virtual office...
Accessibility Checklist for MS Word
Printable PDF 

Use this checklist to guide you...
What is Universal Design?
The term universal design (UD) originated in the mid-1980s...
Supporting Students’ Mental Wellbeing: Course Design
Image used under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license...
Supporting Students’ Mental Wellbeing: Instructional Strategies
As instructors and teaching assistants you often have...
Why is Inclusive Instruction Important?
According to recent advances in neuroscience research,...
Universal Design: Instructional Strategies
Good teaching involves considering the strengths and needs...
Universal Design: Course Design
Good course design involves considering the strengths and...
Gender Pronouns and Teaching
What are pronouns?

A pronoun is a part of speech that...
Building Community in Large Classes
In large, crowded, undergraduate classes students can feel...
Trigger Warnings
A trigger warning is a statement made prior to sharing...
Teaching Metacognitive Skills
Metacognition has been defined as “one’s...
Backchannel Tools
In the context of higher education, the word “...
Motivating Our Students
Motivation and learning are inextricably intertwined:...
Removing Barriers: Accessibility and Accommodation
Most people strive to be gracious and sensitive when...
Strategies for Course Internationalization
Ensuring that courses and program activities include global...
Conflict Management for Instructors
Have you ever had to deal with a disruptive or highly...
Managing Students’ Use of Technology in the Classroom
Technology has become an integral part of students’...
Supervisory Relationships
Supervision of undergraduate and graduate student research...
Teaching students research skills using library-based assignments
Including well-designed library-based assignments in your...
Teaching problem-solving skills
Many instructors in engineering, math and science have...
Netiquette and effective electronic communication
The rules of “netiquette,” the do’s and...
Effectively communicating assignment tasks
Telling students what you really want

Language is a...
Holding office hours
Both faculty members and teaching assistants (TAs) can...
Encouraging academic integrity in your courses
What can you do as a instructor to encourage your students...
Faculty of Science Course Outline Guidelines
These guidelines are also available as a Word document...
Creating Course Outlines
Course outlines, or syllabi, are an integral part of course...
Collaborative Online Learning: Fostering Effective Discussions
Fostering an effective discussion can be a challenging...
Fostering Student Morale and Confidence
Early in the term


Introduce yourself to your class....
Large Classes: Limiting the Chaos
The first day of class can set the tone for the rest of the...
Surviving Your First Day of Class
The first day of class sets the tone for the rest of the...
Effective Communication: Barriers and Strategies
Some basic skills can help you to be a more effective...
Promoting and Assessing Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is a high priority outcome of higher...
Timesavers for Electronic Communication
Although electronic communication has become a vital part...