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TLC’s New Structure
Dear Colleagues, I am excited to announce some organizational changes at the Teaching and Learning Center. To better serve WCU’s community of educators, we have realigned our team into three areas of specialization, each led by an Assistant Director, to provide more focused and specialized support: In addition to these leadership roles, the rest of…
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Differences between Game-Based Learning and Gamification
Integrating games into the learning environment can increase learner engagement and sustain motivation using concepts like goals, interaction, feedback, problem solving, competition, and narrative. There are two approaches to incorporating games into instruction, Game-based learning (GBL) and gamification. Game-Based Learning Game-Based Learning is an active learning pedagogical approach where games are used to increase student…
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Gamification
Is where game characteristics, elements, and principles are integrated into learning activities. Here, learning activities promote student engagement and motivation to learn. Components of gamification could be points systems, badges, leaderboards, discussion boards, quizzes and classroom response systems. Gamification is different than game-based learning. Gamification adds game-like elements to a lesson whereas game-based learning uses…
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Game-Based Learning
An active learning pedagogical approach where games are used to increase student engagement. The student learns from playing the game and promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Game-based learning integrated the course content and assignments into a digital or non-digital game and may include simulations that can allow students to experience the learning firsthand. Game-Based…
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Sound Waves and Syllabi: The Pedagogical Possibilities of Podcasting
A special live episode recording exploring the breadth of podcast possibilities with 5 West Chester University faculty. Whether it is using them as course texts or for assessment, creating podcasts for teaching or scholarship, or preparing students to be podcast professionals, this episode has something for everyone. Host: Dr. Tom Pantazes Guests: Closed Captions Resources…
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Equitable Assessment Practices
Creating equitable assessment practices is essential for fostering an inclusive and fair learning environment—one where all students feel respected, supported, and able to succeed, regardless of their backgrounds or identities. By adopting culturally inclusive pedagogy, which acknowledges and values students’ diverse cultural experiences, educators can design assessments that more accurately reflect each student’s learning and…
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The Digital Divide
The term “Digital Divide” refers to the disparity in access to digital technologies, such as computers, high-speed Internet, and premium subscriptions to AI platforms. In education, this issue gained widespread attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, as institutions quickly realized that they could not reliably interact with all of their students online. There are several factors…
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Recognizing & Reducing Implicit Bias in the Online Classroom
What is Implicit Bias? One major barrier to equitable teaching is implicit (or unconscious) bias. Implicit bias refers to the value associations we all unthinkingly hold and may apply to others; this includes negative associations with marginalized groups as well as positive associations with people similar to us and groups associated with social prestige. An…
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Inclusive Language and the Euphemism Treadmill
Language is one of the first and most consistent ways we communicate our classroom culture. Years of research affirm what many of us know intuitively: students who feel like they belong in a classroom are more engaged, more likely to persist through challenges, and ultimately more likely to succeed; conversely, students who find themselves in…
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Crafting a More Inclusive Syllabus
Your syllabus is one of the first ways students are introduced to you and your course. What you include and how you present the information can go a long way to demonstrating your commitment to student success. What does your syllabus sound like? While it’s important for a syllabus to convey course policies, using a…
Categories
- Assessment and Grading
- Course and Activity Design
- High Impact Practices (HIPs)
- Inclusive Teaching and Accessibility
- Instructional Delivery
- Integrating Research and Teaching (SoTL)
- Teaching Technology
- TLC Announcements
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