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December 2025 Tuesday Tips
2nd December 2025
Tuesday Teaching Tip: Getting Students to Engage More
Student participation in class matters. Whether you are teaching an in-person discussion-based course in the Humanities or a large online asynchronous STEM course, it makes a difference when students engage with each other and the material. A recent Chronicle(opens in new window) article highlighted some straightforward tactics to help students speak up more. These points come straight from the author.
- Lower the bar to speaking in class by setting up the moment in advance.
- Gently reinforce a reluctant speaker’s participation when it happens.
- And, if the problem is really bad, you can even rehearse and reinforce class participation with the student one-on-one during office hours.
For online formats, these do not always work, so I want to draw your attention to our library of teaching guides, especially this one with an emphasis on Discussion Boards. One quick note reminds us of our own behavior “The best way to promote student engagement is to model the interaction you want. It's critical that we are actively reading/responding to student discussion posts weekly.”
Near the end of the semester, we often think the norms are set, and we are just on a glide path to finals. This is not the case. There is still time for a less enthusiastic student to raise their hand and for you to value their response. There is still time for a word of encouragement from you in a discussion board that provides the spark a student needs.
Zach Justus
Director of Faculty Development
Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Google Voice/Text:
If you’d like to comment on this or any other Tuesday Tip, visit the FDEV Blog(opens in new window).
All past Tuesday Tips are curated on the FDEV website.
9th December 2025
Tuesday Teaching Tip: Boost Your SFOT Response Rates
Last year, I shared some advice(opens in new window) backed by peer-reviewed research for increasing Student Feedback on Teaching and Learning (SFOT) response rates, even for online asynchronous classes.
In summary, the plan was to:
- Take class time (in person or on Zoom) the same way you would if you were doing in-person SFOTs.
- Tell them why this matters by explaining how you review feedback and citing one example of changes you made in response to feedback.
- Tell them how it’s going by sharing the response rates with them and asking for their help in pushing the rate up to some target threshold.
This year, I want to expand a little to make this even more effective.
- Take the time, have a slide with a link and/or QR code to make the student experience of getting to the SFOT as seamless as possible. Not sure how to make a QR code, there are multiple platforms, but QRCode Monkey(opens in new window) does not require an account.
- Tell them why and keep them updated. Here is something you could say out loud or copy-edit-paste into a Canvas announcement: I read every comment and use them to improve. From last year, I [a change you made]. This term I’m piloting [a thing you’re testing]—tell me if it’s helping. Please share course-focused feedback. Complete yours here: [short link] (QR on today’s slide). We’re at [##%]; goal 70% by Dec 12. Responses are confidential, and I view results after grades post. Thank you!
Zach Justus
Director of Faculty Development
Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Google Voice/Text:
If you’d like to comment on this or any other Tuesday Tip, visit the FDEV Blog(opens in new window).
All past Tuesday Tips are curated on the FDEV website.
16th December 2025
Tuesday Teaching Tip: Great Job! See You Soon
Hello faculty!
We hope you have a restful break. A recent episode of the Teaching in Higher Ed(opens in new window) podcast reminded me of how taxing different parts of this work can be and the necessity of taking time away when you can. It is also okay to just take a break.
As we are wrapping up, we wanted to remind you of our asynchronous programs you can complete over break if you are feeling motivated, and let you know about our spring programming in case that helps you plan your time. Regardless of how you spend winter break, we will be here for you in the spring and look forward to working with you then.
Asynchronous
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturer Faculty
Format: Online
Payment: $250 taxable training and professional development stipend
Funding Source:AIEIC Grant(opens in new window)
Enroll(opens in new window) - See the full course description (Google Doc) for details.
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturer Faculty
Format: Online
Payment: No payment - we will provide a letter of completion for dossier inclusion
Spring 2026
Chico Affordable Learning Solutions (CAL$)
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturers
Format: Online and Asynchronous
Compensation: $500
Contact: Beth Shook(opens in new window)
Free Speech and Inclusion
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturers
Format: Online with one in-person meeting
Compensation: $500
Quality Learning and Teaching (QLT)
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturers
Format: Online and Asynchronous
Compensation: $500
Book Club on Higher Expectations: How to Survive Academia, Make it Better for Others, and Transform the University
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track, Lecturers, and Staff
Format: In Person 12-1pm, days TBD
Compensation: No payment - we will provide a copy of the book.
Contact: Zach Justus(opens in new window)
Supporting Transfer Students Faculty Learning Community
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturers
Format: TBD
Compensation: $500
Contact: Zach Justus(opens in new window) (lead TBD)
Book in Common Discussion Group on California Against the Sea
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track, Lecturers, and Staff
Format: In person 12-1pm, days TBD
Compensation: No payment - we will provide a copy of the book.
Contact: Mark Stemen(opens in new window)
Mid-Career Faculty Learning Community
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturers
Format: In Person
Compensation: $500
Contact: Zach Justus(opens in new window) (lead TBD)
Advancing Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Student Success Faculty Learning Community
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturers
Format: Hybrid
Compensation: $750
Contact: Drs. William Nitzky(opens in new window) and Cindy Vang(opens in new window)
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Who: Tenure/Tenure-Track and Lecturers
Payment: Up to $1,000 in professional development funds to directly support faculty research, assessment, implementation, and engagement that enhances teaching and learning.
Contact: Zach Justus(opens in new window)
Zach Justus
Director of Faculty Development
Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Google Voice/Text:
If you’d like to comment on this or any other Tuesday Tip, visit the FDEV Blog(opens in new window).
All past Tuesday Tips are curated on the FDEV website.