Center for Excellence in TeachingPromoting student growth
Developing student skill levels through scaffolding, a growth mindset, a positive class environment, aligned assessments, effective assignment descriptions, and transparent grading.
Resources: Assignment
Engaging students
Active learning strategies, its basis in learning theories, flipped courses, and student motivation.
Types of assessment
This resource describes different categories of assessments and provides common examples of each. It also discusses the various roles assessment can play in teaching and learning, including options for providing feedback to students. The terms assessment and assignment may be used interchangeably.
Tips for Designing Grading Rubrics
A collection of tips for instructors who are developing rubrics for grading their assignments.
Guest speakers as an active learning opportunity
An explanation of how to facilitate an in-class active learning technique using a guest speaker, either live or recorded, for any size class.
Short essay question rubric
Sample grading rubric an instructor can use to assess students’ work on short essay questions.
Planning online assessment
This document introduces some options for developing and administering online assessments.
Open-book or take-home exams online
Considerations for administering exams online as open-book or take-home exams.
Effective groupwork
A collection of tips for promoting effective groupwork, a sample form for having students in a group evaluate the level of participation form group members, and recommendations for further resources.
Use of social media in academic courses
Use of social media platforms in academic courses. Specifically, considering requiring students to post on social media platforms that are not secured by USC, such as through Shibboleth verification.