Can drawing out connections enhance learning?

Some students struggle with how to take notes in class, often because they don’t think in the linear logical way that traditional notes are organized. A creative alternative, that focuses on connections across a lecture or topics, seems to be really helpful for learning. In this time-out, along with a few guests, we’ll look at the evidence that supports mind-maps as an effective learning and note-taking approach to classroom success.

Kaup et al (2024): https://www.njppp.com/index.php?mno=215336

Jabade & Nadaf (2024): 10.4103/jehp.jehp_321_24

Edwards & Cooper (2010): 10.1111/j.1743-498X.2010.00395.x

How can we address students’ key questions and motivation from the first day of a course?

In this time-out, we will revisit a popular topic from this podcast project and continue to think about tactics that can enhance the first day of class, with some new evidence and activities that can help students settle in for a good start and positive experience.

Meaders et al (1): https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.639338

Meaders et al (2): https://stemeducationjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40594-021-00306-y

Hale & Wetmiller (2022): https://publications.aaahq.org/iae/article-abstract/37/4/25/211/Syllabus-Day-Reinvented-Reimagining-the-First-Day?redirectedFrom=fulltext

McGinley & Jones (2014): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0098628314530350

Teaching to a course with 75, 100, or even 200 students can be difficult for the instructor and the student’s learning. In this time-out, we’ll explore some tested strategies that led to improved learning and experiences in these large classes, that also seemed to have been efficient and economical uses of time for the instructor. 

Allen et al 2022: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2021.1891404

Lillard & Taggart 2022: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2022.2140097

Jeram 2024: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2023.2208818

In this time-out we are focusing on every undergraduate students worst nightmare…the class presentation (dun, dun, duuuuun!). These types of assignments don’t have to be scary or painful, and with some intention and modification, can be really valuable learning and professional development experiences. 

van Ginkel et al 2015: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1747938X15000056

Raja 2017: 

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1161521.pdf

Calcich & Weilbaker 2015: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10528008.1992.11488349

Sleigh 2013:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2304/plat.2013.12.3.246

Heideman & Laury 2022:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2021.1913395

What happens when instructors focus on the environment they create for students in their classroom?

In this time-out, I’ll focus the discussion on a classroom’s motivational climate, which is largely facilitated by how the instructor cultivates the environment to the degree that students feel some control, cared for, and the course experience is designed in such a way to address and enhance students sense of interest, success, and utility. 

Jones et al (2022): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23328584211073167

Jones et al (2024): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191491X24000324?via%3Dihub

Jones & Carter (2019): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11218-019-09500-x

The MUSIC Model website: https://www.themusicmodel.com/

How do you deal with students and their phones in class?

Students are obviously using their devices in class, and sometimes even to assist and engage with learning and the instructors. I’m curious how we should approach discussing and streamlining device use in our classrooms, and creating an environment that accepts the reality of the ubiquity of these devices but also acknowledges optimal and fair use strategies. This time-out will center on student perceptions and a few practical suggestions for how to approach off-task device use in your classrooms.

Ruppel et al 2023: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2023.2233106

Stowell et al 2018: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2018.1437533

Deng et al  (2022): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2021.1973947

Petranek and Gallegos (2024): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2023.2183377

Andrade (2025): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2023.2245526

Karlins (2022): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/87567555.2021.1985423

How do the words you select for your syllabus influence initial impressions? In this time-out, we will pause and reflect on the tone of our syllabi, and how the words we use to communicate our thoughts about the course can shift how learners may be feeling on those first days.

Harnish & Bridges: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11218-011-9152-4

Waggoner Denton & Veloso: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11218-011-9152-4

Gurung & Galardi: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0098628321994632

Can college teachers enhance a student’s sense of belonging on campus? In this time-out, we’ll explore how college teachers classroom practices, and even very brief interventions, can change a students’ sense of belonging, and why this matters.

Kirby & Thomas: https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1950659

Keely et al: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328023top3302_1

Hammarlund et al: https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biab146

Walton et al: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ade4420

Cheng et al: https://doi.org/10.1080/10401334.2021.1984921

Strayhorn: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-021-09559-5   

How much does an instructor’s mindset influence the student experience? This episode will explore how much an instructor’s frame of mind and how they approach students, their potential, and their classes can influence student’s learning and outcomes. 

Muenks et al 2024: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11218-024-09948-6

Muenks et al 2020: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-30956-001?doi=1

Rutten et al 2024: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361476X2400064X

Why don’t students read and what can we do about it? In this continuation from the last episode on reading, I’ll share some reasons why college students are not reading, and then provide a few additional tools and strategies that instructors can use to help enhance the importance of reading in their classes and supports for students to actually do that reading. 

Kerr and Frese 2017: https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2016.1222577

Gurung and Martin 2011: https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628310390913  

Dubus and Toledo 2015: https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2014.972319

Davis and Ritchey 2023: https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2023.2271619

Sylan 2018: https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2018.1518892