Two ideas for spring semester

To finish up the year I’m highlighting some of our most popular articles. They’re grouped into two strategies you might want to explore over the break. Don’t worry if it’s too late for major changes to that spring course. You can use these ideas to move the needle just a smidge the first time around.

1. Have students create media

This can take the form of a small assignment. It doesn’t have to rise to the level of a major paper.

• How to design a digital media assignment
• Three possibilities (there are lots more):
  • TED-style talk
  • Public service announcement
  • Concept map
• A grid for evaluating student media

2. Make your materials pop

There are easy ways to make a handout, syllabus, or other document visually more effective — and they don’t require redoing everything from scratch.

• How to make a visually awesome handout
• Building a visual syllabus

[Image credit: light painting by Jonathan Cohen]