Creating Connections: Tips for Writing Effective Test Questions 

Tests are a learning experience for the test-taker. Tests are not only a way to find out how much students know, but they are also a way to guide the test taker as to what is most important about what they are learning. Whether it is for a chapter test, a semester exam, or a test bank, I write questions that focus on details and the big picture.

AI: An Unexpected Cure for Faculty Burnout 

The fear of technology replacing the human element in education is real. I’ve thought about these concerns: Will AI encourage laziness? What about bias? What if it makes mistakes? But I’ve found a way to use AI that isn’t replacing me as an educator; it’s supporting me. And in a time when faculty burnout is rampant, that support makes all the difference. 

Pedagogy in the Precarious Present: Tips for Teaching Effectively in Challenging Times 

The past several semesters have been tremulous with more to come, topping even the anxiety-laden and stress-producing “pandemic semesters.” What new edict will come down today? Will my class end up on the news? Will I be fired, or will my department be shut down? These aren’t just philosophical questions in 2025. 

Transforming Good to Great: Tips for Elevating Your Letters of Recommendation

John Danchisko is a National Board Certified Teacher in Secondary English/Language Arts with eighteen years of experience in public schools east of Pittsburgh, PA. In the spring of my first year of teaching high school, a student sheepishly requested a letter of recommendation for college. I agreed and approached a seasoned teacher to ask how …

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