Learners in your classes will soon be making decisions about purchasing course materials for a new term. Below, we’ve republished results from a recent survey about students’ format preferences when it comes to educational reading. Take a look to catch a glimpse of how students’ learning preferences have shifted.  Recently, Cengage Learning’s 4LTR Press team conducted a survey among students, asking their preferences for print or digital resources in the educational context. Review the results for a quick snapshot of what they’re thinking. You may find the trends interesting! What are your reflections on the Read More…

Though Thanksgiving offers most of us an opportunity to reflect and rest, students (and instructors) know that finals week is just around the corner. The good news: by preparing now, students can eliminate some of the pressure and stress they’d face if they leave it all to the last minute. Throughout the year, our colleagues at Questia share tools, tips, and resources that inspire more effective research and study habits. In light of the time of year, we wanted to share this helpful post from the Questia blog, which offers students some suggestions for staying healthier and better organized through Read More…

An early issue of the Cengage Learning eNewsletter was devoted to the topic of “Addressing Different Learning Styles.” This issue prompted some feedback from instructors with opposing viewpoints on the matter of basing one’s teaching style on this idea. Below, Dr. Melanie Cooper, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Education at Clemson University, provides her response. We welcome thoughtful, academic dialogue around all the topics we discuss at our blog. If you have any feedback, please feel free to submit it via the Comments section below. Guest Contributor: Melanie M Cooper, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Clemson University (Clemson, SC) The Cengage Learning Read More…

We would like to formally welcome you to Cengage Learning’s new blog! At this site, we’ll feature articles of interest and applicability to your professional life, addressing such topics as teaching with technology, classroom management, assessment & outcomes, research & writing, professional development, and more. You’ll also find suggestions for keeping your students engaged and motivated throughout the school year. To keep our readers up-to-date on our latest blog posts and activity, we will send a weekly newsletter. If you haven’t yet subscribed, we invite you to do so today! From the outset, we also want you to know that we endeavor to speak to Read More…

On its face, an asynchronous conversation conducted via a discussion board may not seem as personal or immediate as a conversation that takes place in a more traditional classroom. However, an online discussion can be just as spirited, enlightening, and engaging as one taking place in the face-to-face environment — if it is facilitated well. How can you, as an instructor, help students gain the full benefit of discussions in your online course? In McKeachie’s Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers, contributors Erping Zhu and Matthew Kaplan offer the following tips:

Create a

Technology, specifically smartphones, can be distractions in the classroom. However, if used correctly instructors can take advantage of technology to engage students and further the learning process. In McKeachie’s Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers (2011, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning), authors Svinicki and McKeachie outline tips and tricks for instructors leveraging clickers in the classroom. Clickers, or student response systems, are commonly utilized to promote active learning by enabling a large number of students to send their responses to poll questions posed by their instructor. There are even Web-based response systems that you can Read More…