This resource provides guidance for incorporating community building activities into a course to foster belonging, increase engagement, and build collaboration and communication skills. It includes strategies and considerations for using community building activities as well as sample activities categorized by purpose. Keywords: community building, icebreakers, belonging, inclusion, collaboration, group work.
Bobby Borg of the USC Thornton School of Music discusses how student teams can use fictional artist personas to collaboratively create innovative music marketing strategies during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
Julianna Kirschner of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism discusses the development of collaborative sustainability work in a Small Group and Team Communication class with support from the Sustainability Across the Curriculum Grant during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
Anita Dashiell-Sparks of the USC School of Dramatic Arts discusses how students can work collaboratively using theater games and improvisation to experientially connect, apply, and embody material or content explored in the coursework and how this interactive approach can help deepen understanding of the subject matter through literature and research during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
A brief introduction to mindfulness including examples of contemplative pedagogical practices that can be incorporated into courses to support student learning and wellbeing. Created in collaboration with Mindful USC.
A description, definition, and examples of active learning techniques in clinical settings. This document provides a planning guide for facilitating active learning in a variety of clinical or simulated settings as well as examples to get started.
This resource provides tips and considerations for instructors to reduce grading workload, improve efficiency, and attend to their own wellbeing, particularly at the end of a semester, by revising course design, assignments, or teaching practices.
Susan Berg of Bovard College discusses an interactive approach to assessment at the August 2022 Faculty Showcase.
Rory Lukins from the Dornsife writing program discusses a study on the implementation of contract grading in composition courses at the August 2022 Faculty Showcase on Alternative Assessment
Lori Mesrobian from Dornsife Latin American and Iberian Cultures discusses “ungrading” assignments in language classes at the August 2022 Faculty Showcase on Alternative Assessments
Center for Excellence in Teaching