What It’s Like Being a First-Time Mom and a Full-Time Student During a Pandemic

Student and Parent During COVID

Reading Time: 4 minutesAuthor: Destiny Woodhouse, Cengage Student Ambassador   In September 2019, a month into a new semester and into a new on-campus job, I found out I was pregnant. It was certainly not my plan to get pregnant two semesters before graduation, as I’m sure no one plans to get pregnant in college, but rather after. […]

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Discouraging Social Loafing in Group Work

graphic showing one student kicking back and relaxing while peers huddle and brainstorm

Reading Time: 3 minutesJanet Mizrahi is a continuing lecturer who teaches professional writing at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is also an author at BizCommBuzz.   Nearly everyone who has ever worked on a team has a story about having to carry a low-participating member of the group. This is called social loafing. But as instructors, we […]

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Let’s Talk Politics: A Sociology Professor’s Activity Idea

Talking Politics in Sociology Courses

Reading Time: 2 minutesAuthor: Dr. Jennifer Harrison, Professor, Warren County Community College   Election time can be a daunting time to teach Sociology, especially to incoming freshmen in a predominantly conservative area. It’s often assumed all professors, especially Sociology professors, are extremely liberal. Whether that’s true or not, it’s our job to teach our students to think for […]

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11 Ways to Support Students with Limited Internet Access

student at laptop with screen that says "loading"

Reading Time: 4 minutesWith the rapid move to virtual learning, the higher-education industry is adapting its approach to technology. While the shift to online learning offers access to always-on education, low-income students with limited internet access face yet another barrier to education. In fact, 44% of adults in the U.S. with household incomes below $30,000 a year don’t […]

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Dear Diary, Part 3: Zoom Teaching: Still Hit AND Miss

close-up of typewriter with "dear diary: part 3" typed out on paper

Reading Time: 2 minutesJanet Mizrahi is a continuing lecturer of professional writing at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is also an author at BizCommBuzz.   Oh. My. God. I am SO sick of grading online! Granted, grading for writing classes has never been my favorite aspect of teaching, but online grading surely is a new level […]

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How to Make Course Material Relevant: Tips from an Instructor

graphic of group of students staring up at big screen

Reading Time: 2 minutesJanet Mizrahi is a continuing lecturer who teaches professional writing at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is also an author at BizCommBuzz.   Those of us teaching in liberal arts colleges often teach students who have no inherent interest in our subject area but must take our class as a GE requirement. How do […]

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Which Certification-Test Preparation Strategies Actually Work?

computing certification banner image

Reading Time: 2 minutesBy: The Cengage Computing Team   If you were to ask a roomful of professionals about the best certification-test preparation strategy, you’d likely receive a wide range of answers. “Take a class” is what some would say, while others would counter with, “No, just do your own self-study.” Still, others might say, “Be sure to […]

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