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November 2025 Tuesday Tips
4th November 2025
Tuesday Teaching Tip: What The Best College Teachers Do
Ken Bain, author of the landmark book What the Best College Teachers Do(opens in new window) passed away in October. The text was important because it catalogued best practices, but also because it was empirical. The book helped popularize a lot of practices we now accept as normal, like the flipped classrooms(opens in new window), in science and the small teaching(opens in new window) approach.
In honor of these contributions, I want to share this excerpt from a 2015 interview with NPR(opens in new window), when he was asked about what great teachers do in the classroom.
They create a critical learning environment in which students rethink their assumptions. It's an environment in which students believe their work will be considered fairly and honestly. The best teachers allow students to try, to fail, and try again. They allow students to collaborate with one another in tackling the most intriguing problems.
They treat their students with decency and respect, no matter how much a student is struggling. The best teachers trust their students rather than blame them. They often give up their own sense of power over students.
Finally, a brief reminder. This Thursday, 12-1pm(opens in new window) Cass Hall and I conclude our three-part series on AI we are doing for Chico State and regional Community Colleges with AI and Workflow where we showcase ways you can leverage the technology in your own work. Recordings of our previous sessions on AI Literacy and AI for Teaching/Learning can be found on our workshop page.
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.
18th November 2025
Tuesday Teaching Tip: Celebrate International Education Week 2025 – Explore Global Opportunities for Faculty
This week’s message is brought to you by International Education and Global Engagement (IEGE), in celebration of International Education Week (IEW), November 17–21, 2025.
Faculty often report that teaching or conducting research abroad—or integrating Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) into their courses—can be life-changing. These experiences help faculty develop new pedagogical approaches, enhance global perspectives, and connect their work back to Chico State values. Engaging in teaching or research abroad, or collaborating in global learning initiatives, strengthens cross-cultural relationships, elevates our scholarship, inspires students and colleagues, and advances inclusive global perspectives.
With a proud and long history of sending students and faculty abroad, and welcoming international students and scholars, Chico State joins institutions around the world in recognizing IEW and the transformative impact of global learning. Various events throughout the week are offered for faculty, staff, and students to explore international education, intercultural exchange, and global engagement. We encourage you to share these opportunities(opens in new window) with your students—and to consider how you might expand your own teaching and research across borders.
The full IEW schedule can be found on the IEGE website.
Global Engagement Opportunities and Resources for Chico State Faculty:
- Attend our virtual session: Global Opportunities for Chico State Faculty
Wednesday, November 19 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Zoom, register here(opens in new window).
Learn about programs for teaching, research, and collaboration abroad—including Fulbright, COIL, Faculty-led programs, DAAD grants, and opportunities to teach abroad with the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC). - Explore Fulbright Grant Opportunities
Discover Fulbright grants for U.S. Scholars(opens in new window) and opportunities to host visiting scholars(opens in new window). The Fulbright U.S. Student Program also offers pathways for graduating seniors, graduate students, and early-career professionals to study, research, or teach abroad.
Interested faculty can contact campus Fulbright Liaison, Dr. Matthew Stone (mjstone@csuchico.edu). - Join the International Faculty and Staff Association (IFSA)
Open to all international faculty, staff, allies, and those with interests in international research and teaching. IFSA(opens in new window) celebrates the diversity of cultures, languages, and disciplines represented at Chico State. - Lead a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program(opens in new window)
Take Chico State students abroad and bring global learning to life. Customized faculty-led study abroad programs are credit-bearing, proposed by Chico State faculty, and developed in collaboration with International Education & Global Engagement (IEGE), Professional & Continuing Education (PCE), and competitive service providers. - Refer Students to ESL Support Services
Encourage students to visit English as a Second Language (ESL) Support Services, which offers free tutoring to non-native English speakers seeking to strengthen their academic communication skills. - Invite Study Abroad and Exchange Presentations into your Classroom
Request a classroom visit from a Study Abroad and Exchange advisor or alumnus to share program options and scholarship information tailored to your department or students’ interests - Submit a presentation request form here. - Host a Visiting International Scholar
Welcome a short-term J-1 scholar to your department to teach, collaborate on research, and share global perspectives with our campus community.
Thank you for helping us celebrate IEW 2025 and engaging in these opportunities to expand Chico State’s global connections.
Have questions? Contact Dr. Jennifer Gruber, jlgruber@csuchico.edu(opens in new window), AVP for International Education and Global Engagement.
Warmest regards,
International Education and Global Engagement (IEGE)