Concordia Best Practices for Teaching 2024-2025

For All Concordia Instructors

From the Faculty Handbook, page 136, on the portal at https://falcon.cuw.edu/portal/FacHndbkCH2024.docx

5.14 Best Practices for Teaching (A) (Added July 2024)

Because Concordia values and embodies responsive, student-centered teaching, all instructors strive to achieve these evidence-based best practices that foster student engagement and high levels of learning.

In the Learning Management System (LMS):

1. Open the course (make course available to students) on the Friday before the first day of the term/semester
2. Post a welcome announcement on or before the first day of the term/semester
3. Post the course syllabus, including the schedule, and make it easy to locate on the Content page; include final exam day and time on the schedule if giving one
4. Make instructor contact information, including office hours, easy to locate (must be on the syllabus)
5. Effectively organize course materials including assignments and required resources
6. Use the LMS gradebook to enter all graded student work and verify that the gradebook calculates the course grade as described in the syllabus
7. Set the “external grade” so that students can always view their current cumulative grade
8. Ensure that course content is current and all links function
9. Whenever possible, create assignments within the LMS

During the class

1. Follow the schedule outlined on the syllabus (if schedule modifications become necessary, provide those to students in writing via the LMS and announce/describe in class)
2. Use evidence-based, active learning strategies that engage students
3. Connect learning activities, required readings, quizzes/exams and all assignments directly to the course objectives/course learning outcomes, and connect learning activities directly to learning assessments
4. Make assignment directions and grading criteria clear and explicit
5. Use students’ names and demonstrate care and concern for them
6. Connect Christian faith with subject matter
7. Promptly grade all assignments and provide substantive feedback designed to aid learning
8. Comply with ARC expectations for student accommodations
9. Reach out to any student who fails to complete University First Assignment/Pledge (Enrollment Verification), fails to submit assignments or is excessively absent. Alert the registrar if the student should be withdrawn.

Fully online courses only:

1. Demonstrate regular and substantive interaction with students by logging into the course multiple times each week, interacting frequently with students on discussion forums, communicating with students concerning course content and learning, and holding office hours
2. Grade assignments in a timely manner and provide students with frequent, regular feedback

In-person and virtual courses only:

1. Use all assigned class time for learning; begin and end class on time
2. Hold a final exam or final assignment during the university-designated final exam period; instructors may not alter dates/times of final exams without written permission from their dean

At the end of the course:

1. Promptly grade all student work and ensure that final grades are visible to students in LMS
2. Enter a final grade for every student into the Banner system on or before the university’s deadline
3. Resolve any incompletes within the required timeframe

Take advantage of these resources to engage your students on the first day of class:

• Starting Off Right with the Syllabus
• How to teach a good first day of class
• Begin with Intrigue – The Teaching Professor
• Preparing for the first day of class