{"id":4370,"date":"2026-01-05T21:39:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T21:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/?post_type=furman-update&#038;p=4370"},"modified":"2026-01-05T21:39:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T21:39:41","slug":"teaching-tips-greatest-hits","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/updates\/teaching-tips-greatest-hits\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Tips &#8211; Greatest Hits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4371 alignleft lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/winter-sol.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/winter-sol.jpg 612w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/winter-sol-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/winter-sol-512x512.jpg 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/300;\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With the darkest nights of winter solstice (December 21<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">st<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">) behind us, our Northern Hemisphere turns toward longer days and a semester of new relationships, beloved course content, and the eternal question of how to best engage our students. But as the days gradually lengthen, these dark, quiet nights offer a valuable opportunity to reflect on what went well last semester and what pedagogical choices you want to preserve or tweak. To help guide this reflective process, we\u2019ve put together a few questions to contemplate and a few \u201cgreatest hits\u201d in teaching tips to consider.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Reflection Process:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>OUTCOME:<\/strong> Every backwards planning session begins with setting your learning outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><i>Instructor Outcomes:<\/i><\/strong><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> What\u2019s prompting your desire to make pedagogical revisions? What does success look like in your teaching practice for <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">this<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> semester?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><i>Student Outcomes:<\/i><\/strong><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> What do you want students to remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, or create by the end of the semester? When you imagine a student who \u201cjust gets it,\u201d what have they demonstrated to you?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>SUCCESSES:<\/strong> Where did you and your students find joy last semester or last time you taught a similar course? Which activities sparked engagement? What moments felt most meaningful?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>CHALLENGES:<\/strong> What didn\u2019t work as planned? Were there areas students struggled or suggestions students had for improvement? What aspects of the course felt a little \u201coff\u201d from your goals?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>PROVERBIAL BABY STEPS:<\/strong> What content are you ready to release? What new activities or projects do you want to lean into? Remember: small, intentional changes can yield rewarding results.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Greatest Teaching Tips, New &amp; Old:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you\u2019ve reflected on these questions, it\u2019s time to turn your attention to crafting your course syllabus. The FDC website offers numerous resources to support this process.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u00b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Templates:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> See FDC\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.box.com\/s\/3nqavz2eiykdyug5ys4q7uqyxokql99w?_gl=1*1qm1kui*_ga*OTg5MTQyNjYyLjE3NTEzOTkwNTI.*_ga_7M3CPF5ZYD*czE3NjYxNjMwMzAkbzI2OCRnMSR0MTc2NjE2MzAzNCRqNTYkbDAkaDE1NjI0NTYxNzA.\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">general syllabus template<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.box.com\/s\/1y877mbodprm9zzdwcfvwenz4fu52lmx?_gl=1*1qm1kui*_ga*OTg5MTQyNjYyLjE3NTEzOTkwNTI.*_ga_7M3CPF5ZYD*czE3NjYxNjMwMzAkbzI2OCRnMSR0MTc2NjE2MzAzNCRqNTYkbDAkaDE1NjI0NTYxNzA.\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Spring 2026 syllabus template<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Don\u2019t forget to include a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.app.box.com\/file\/848142293966?s=afntdfm8f94f00qwy7e4lrbk9obehszq\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">consent form<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> if you\u2019re open to some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.app.box.com\/file\/1980506812552?s=hphuo8j9hufmyx2gpsd3we40snemqyq9\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">SoTL explorations<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u00b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Self-Assess:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Walk through the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.box.com\/s\/8abhihf5aruulrakpejc04ppdzkwxvj5\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">inclusive teaching strategies checklist<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> or consider using a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.app.box.com\/file\/727343134897?s=ymosd8tvszqejzoy99vbdu1llifwmrg5\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">rubric to self-assess how learning-centered your syllabus is<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u00b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tune-Up on Material and Policies:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> As learning needs and technologies advance, take a moment to review your intentions around <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/remote-learning-digital-collaboration\/accessibility-inclusion-resources\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">accessibility<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/ai\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">AI<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u00b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Prefer Watching Videos?:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Our Learning by Design studios offer reviews of the suggestions above in the \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f1w14v-vuIA\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Inclusive Syllabus Tune-Up<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d and \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=D7vQkep3zkE\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Converting Syllabi: An Overview of the Graphic Syllabus<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d short videos.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"o\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;o&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">More current research reinforces the benefits of small changes to make your syllabus more graphic. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=2146&amp;context=ij-sotl\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Kaur (2021)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> found that students responded positively to infographic-style syllabi, reporting that they read the syllabus more completely and experienced more comfort and less anxiety about course requirements.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Even more compelling, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/doi\/10.1037\/stl0000373\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Wickline, Middleton, and Appleby (2025)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> clarified that incorporating graphics into a syllabus has significant impact on students&#8217; perceptions of the instructor&#8217;s care and course value (regardless of syllabus length). So go ahead and add that emoji, flow chart, or contact icon. The little change can pay off!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Re-Centering During Periods of Change:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">As the days gradually lengthen and spring semester approaches, remember that thoughtful, incremental improvements to your teaching practice can create meaningful change for both you and your students. Take time to reflect, make intentional choices, and be kind to yourself in the process.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Pedagogy is iterative work. Your colleagues and the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/fdc@furman.edu\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">FDC<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> are here to support you through the ongoing journey.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; With the darkest nights of winter solstice (December 21st) behind us, our Northern Hemisphere turns toward longer days and a semester of new relationships, beloved course content, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","update-categories":[],"class_list":["post-4370","furman-update","type-furman-update","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/4370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/furman-update"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/4370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4377,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/4370\/revisions\/4377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"furman-update-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/update-categories?post=4370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}