This study explores the relationship between the frequency and time spent on cell phones (independent variables) by students in the classroom and students' academic performance (dependent variable), as represented by self-reported grade point average (GPA). A 22-question Internet survey was conducted at a private Northeastern university (N =…

This article investigates best practices in instructional design to assist in creating a multimedia learning object to supplement a face-to-face sophomore seminar. The course requires the completion of a degree plan that adheres to complex advising rules, creating stress for many students as well as causing a very advising-heavy load for…

Undergraduate teaching assistant (UTA) programs pair students with faculty to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. These programs have the potential to offer a high-impact experience (Kuh, 2008); students feel more connected to learning when meaningfully engaged. UTAs develop important relationships with faculty mentors, hone…

The authors compared student perceptions and performance in a fully online versus a flipped undergraduate diversity course. Students' performance on course assignments and responses to surveys assessing perceptions of learning climate, basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness), motivation, relevance, and learning gains were…

Many U.S. colleges and universities have emphasized the value of student-driven undergraduate research as one way to augment the traditional classroom experience. For undergraduate students, human subjects-based research, which typically requires review by an institutional review board (IRB), can have a particularly profound impact on their…

Many studies have examined the effects of technology on education as well as how educators feel about technology; however, this study examined the opinions of 528 students regarding how technology influences their education. In particular, we investigated whether students felt a sense of entitlement to use their technology in the classroom. The…

This article discusses a study conducted to evaluate the effect of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) University College's Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) Program on student performance in first-year core curriculum courses. First, a description and history of the UTA program are provided. Next, the authors describe how quantitative…

Foundational undergraduate courses in chemistry and mathematics are gateways to a number of lucrative majors and pre-professional programs. Historically, however, students often struggle with these disciplines and can benefit from alternate approaches to examining their learning strategies. This article describes the use of exam…

Much of the research on uncivil behavior in the college/university classroom has focused on individual academic fields of study and been conducted at one, typically public, institution. This study examined perceptions of classroom incivility of faculty members (N = 166) from both public and private two- and four year institutions. The authors…

This study involved five English instructors at a Hispanic-serving community college who participated in professional development workshops on culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP). Three themes emerged from analysis of the survey and interview data: (1) Integration of disciplinary identity contributes to instructors'' satisfaction with the…

This article describes a studio approach to faculty development in a First-Year Seminar (FYS) program. The studio concept helps structure and theorize faculty development efforts in the program. Meeting for regular in-term reflections on their FYSs, instructors collectively generate responses to teaching challenges specific to the program as well…

Several reports have highlighted the need to improve teaching within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, particularly at the undergraduate level. These reports have encouraged the use of more evidence-based teaching practices in the classroom to improve teaching. The authors explore how faculty members' decision to…

Learning in higher education is often perceived from the standpoint of the students, yet faculty are also learners. To investigate what faculty learn from their interactions with students, the authors analyzed interview data from 40 early post-tenure faculty and learned that (1) faculty approach subject matter differently than students and (2) the…

Many teachers are aware of the benefits of small-group learning. However, implementation, especially in classrooms with communication challenges, can be difficult. For students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) in mainstream classrooms, communication is most often supported through sign language interpreters and captioning. This model of…

An adaptation of Halpern's (1998) model of critical thinking (CT) was implemented for seven semesters of data collection involving 904 students in 44 classes. A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was utilized for evaluating student growth in CT. The model comprised the development of higher education students' CT skills and dispositions by…