Center for Engaged Learning Blog - Center for Engaged Learning

An apple keyboard rests on a wooden desk next to a planner. The planner shows a dotted grid show a Monday and Tuesday, the 26 and 27 of a month; the only thing written on the page is "#ToDo". Text along the bottom reads, "Could some of the pedagogical shifts made during the 'pivots of the pandemic' be hurting the students we were trying to help?"

March 14, 2023

Ableism in Academia: The Uneven Impacts of Distraction and Procrastination

by Caroline J. Ketcham

Recently in one of my productive distraction moments, I came across a tweet thread from Dr. Hannah Snyder (@Hannah_R_Snyder) that spurred reflection for me in my teaching, and has led to this discussion in this platform more broadly. Two articles…

Two people sit at the corner of a table, talking. Another person sits at a couch in the background. An overlay reads, "60-Second SoTL. Relational supports and peer mentoring for under-represented students."

March 9, 2023

Relational Supports and Peer Mentoring for Under-Represented Students

by Jessie L. Moore

60-Second SoTL – Episode 24 This week’s episode features an open-access article from the Journal of Further and Higher Education and examines how relational supports and peer mentors can improve access to university for students from marginalized communities: McNally, Sinéad, Paul Downes, Laura…

A background of colorful geometric shapes with an overlay that reads, "The beauty of language is that it constantly evolves, so it's always a valuable exercise to reconsider how we write and how our readers may react to our words."

March 7, 2023

Inclusive Writing for International Audiences

by Jennie Goforth

Using inclusive language makes your audiences feel welcome and respected, reduces distraction for the reader, and maintains your (and our!) credibility. The books in our Open Access Book Series are downloaded by readers across the world, so we pay particular…

Continent borders are outlined in white against a black background. A roughly sketched plane with a graduation cap is in the top right corner with a contrail suggesting it's flown across the map. An overlay reads, "60-Second SoTL: Breaking Barriers & Advancing Study Abroad."

March 2, 2023

Breaking Barriers and Advancing HURMS’ Study Abroad Engagement

by Aly Weaver

60-Second SoTL – Episode 23 This week’s episode, hosted by Aly Weaver, is a continuation of the blog post “Barriers to HURMS’ Study Abroad Engagement.” Specifically, this episode explores an example of a study abroad program that successfully promoted engagement by…

World globe on top of a dictionary in a library. "Weaver examines the barriers that hinder minority students from participating in Study Abroad and how to combat these.

February 28, 2023

Barriers to HURMS Study Abroad Engagement

by Aly Weaver

Studying abroad is a high-impact practice with a multitude of benefits (Truelove 2023). Increasingly, employers are seeking graduates with cross-cultural experience, a global perspective, and critical thinking skills. In addition, research suggests that undergraduate students who participate in study abroad…

A small globe with a graduation cap on it sits on top of a keyboard. An overlay reads, "60-Second SoTL: Virtual Study Abroad."

February 23, 2023

Alternatives to Studying Abroad During the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Elana Gutmann

60-Second SoTL – Episode 22 This week’s episode, hosted by Elana Gutmann, features an open-access proceedings article that explores three alternatives to studying abroad for students enrolled at Setsunan University in Japan during the global COVID pandemic: Chu, Curtis, and Yusuke…

A girl looking at a computer with a woman in a city. A Phone open to the notes app reads "higher education as a whole needs to invest in opportunities alternative to study abroad so more students may benefit from these experiences"

February 21, 2023

Learning from the Past: Alternative Ways to Build Intercultural Competency

by Elana Gutmann

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities around the world found ways to make studying away more accessible to students, particularly through virtual platforms and trips into their local communities. A few programs are discussed in more detail below,…

A woman sits at a wooden bench, using a soldering tool. A desktop computer sits further back on the table. In the background, other people are working at Maker Hub stations, but their specific projects aren't visible. A text overlay reads, "Limed: Teaching with a Twist. Course Construction: Bridging the Academy. CEL Podcasts."

February 20, 2023

Course Construction: Bridging the Academy

by Matt Wittstein

Limed: Teaching with a Twist – Episode 6 Dr. Katherine Fox is a medical anthropologist from Southern Oregon University. As her university is adopting a new general education requirement, she is working on developing a new course that centers creativity…

Directional signs point in opposite directions; one says, "short-term," and one says, "long-term." An overlay reads, "60-Second SoTL: Comparing Impacts of Long-Term vs Short-Term Study Away."

February 16, 2023

Comparing Impacts of Long-Term versus Short-Term Study Away

by Howard Chi

60-Second SoTL – Episode 21 This episode, hosted by Howard Chi, is a continuation of the blog post “Lengths of Study Away Programs.” It features a longitudinal study that compared the educational impact of long-term versus short-term study away: Coker, Jeffrey…

In a forest, a faculty member and two students interact "faculty staff and student should consider the length of study away programs and how that may impact their experiences"

February 14, 2023

Lengths of Study-Away Programs

by Howard Chi

Traditionally, higher education institutions refer to study away or study abroad as a semester-long experience taken in the fall or spring terms in a country different from the student’s own. Semester-long experiences allow you to complete one or more courses…