I have never encountered a student with strong opinions about whether they learn kinetics before or after thermodynamics, or which theory best explains expanded-octet structures, or whether quantum mechanics should occur early or late in the text. Fortunately, there are still many ways in which the viewpoints of instructors and students align perfectly. I’d like to share a few of those human-centric areas of agreement that can be supported by an effective textbook.
Category: In the Classroom
Teaching Students to Think Like Historians: Making Secondary Sources a Primary Focus in the U.S. History Classroom
According to AP® instructor Craig Nicoletti, students must be taught more than how to memorize information. In our latest Norton Learning Blog post, AP® instructor Nicoletti encourages his students to “think like historians” by synthesizing historical information, constructing arguments about the past, and recalling specific historical details.
From Plato’s “Literacy Crisis” to Generative AI: What Writing Studies Can Teach Us Right Now
AI refusal and boundary-setting have value because they clarify what we refuse to lose. At the same time, we can also treat this “technology” as a resource, one that can be leveraged to consolidate humanistic learning and values rather than replace them.
Care as Structure, not Sacrifice: Rethinking the Pedagogy of Care in Higher Education
Milton W. Wendland (JD, PhD) is a professor of instruction in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of South Florida, where he specializes in equitable and inclusive online education. In the wake of COVID-19, a pedagogy of care has emerged as a central organizing framework in conversations about teaching and learning in higher education, appearing in practice as flexible deadlines, expanded …
Social Media: The Link Between Higher Education and New Generations
If there is one thing the world would likely agree on, it’s that social media has become a dominant part. of our society. It’s integral to our daily lives—whether it be trends, comedy, makeup routines, financial advice, travel recommendations, and so much more. Yet many people consider scrolling an act that eventually causes "brain rot"— a term defined as mental fog or decline from consuming too much low-quality, mindless content.
Building Happier, Healthier Relationships: IT’S INTERPERSONAL’s Crucial Role in the Communication Classroom
Communications instructor, Christa Ziegler, discusses how It's Interpersonal uses language and concepts anyone can understand, encourages students to regulate their emotions during points of conflict, and teaches them the basics of communication they can apply to their own lives. Read why she credits her student's engagement and their material retention to It’s Interpersonal.
Designed Visibility: How Faculty Can Be Felt Without Always Being On
Milton W. Wendland (JD, PhD) is a professor of instruction in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of South Florida, where he specializes in equitable and inclusive online education. “Presence” is one of the most discussed and misunderstood concepts in course design. Faculty across higher education know that students learn better when teachers …
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Doing More with More: Making the Most of THE HISTORY OF ART: A GLOBAL VIEW
Lorraine Affourtit is Assistant Professor of Art History and Visual Culture and Affiliate Faculty in the Gender, Women’s Studies, and Sexuality Studies program at Appalachian State University. Globalizing and Decolonizing Art History Surveys Art history survey courses, often offered in two parts spanning ancient to contemporary art, are the backbone of almost any college-level program in art history at …
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Using Public Speaking as a Social Justice Tool
I help my students learn how to challenge the dominant narratives around social issues; how to research effectively to educate, inform, and persuade; and how to tell a great story to capture and engage the audience. This is why I use W. W. Norton’s Contemporary Public Speaking by Pat Gehrke and Megan Foley in my public speaking classes.
Setting the Stage Through Social Justice Speeches
Dr. Clariza Ruiz de Castilla highlights how she uses Contemporary Public Speaking to encourage her students to write speeches on social justice in an era where inequalities are increasingly discussed.