In large lecture courses, it can be challenging to imagine assessing student learning in ways other than multiple-choice exams and traditional point-based grading. Inspired by major pedagogical principles shared by Maria Montessori and Thomas Jefferson and supported by current understandings of effective teaching, assessment was reimagined in a…

Recorded lectures have rapidly gained momentum in teaching and learning, whether online or "offline" in traditional face-to-face classrooms. We appreciate the remarkable accessibility and flexibility brought by recorded lectures, but we must ponder its adequacy and effectiveness. After all, a YouTube recording is different from a live…

The current study investigated the effects of segmentation design and drawing on college students' video learning. Participants were 158 college students randomly assigned to view either a segmented or continuous video lecture (video type: segmented vs continuous) and who either received instructed to draw while learning or no instructions at all…

Video lectures are commonly used in online and flipped courses, but students often find it challenging to stay engaged and retain lecture content. The current study examined to what extent the power of electroencephalography (EEG) brain activity in the theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (13-20 Hz) bands can dynamically capture fluctuations…

Note-taking in tertiary education is a challenging activity which requires listening, processing and recording new information at the same time. However, in lectures at a high presentation rate, students often have to choose between these activities. One solution which is frequently proposed to mitigate this problem is the use of guided notes,…

Effective teaching requires the use of techniques and strategies to counter student passivity and enhance engagement. Research demonstrates that drawing improves memory retention, increases motivation to learn, provides an opportunity to learn what makes an image an effective communication tool, allows demonstration of conceptual understanding,…

In this study, we investigated the relationship between perceived learner control and student engagement in a blended course. Data were collected from 110 s-year bachelor students through weekly questionnaires to gather information about how they perceived their learner control and engagement in various study activities, including reading…

Background: Academic boredom is ubiquitous, and it leads to a range of adverse learning outcomes. Given that students often make estimates of how boring lectures are, does anticipating a lecture to be boring shape their actual experience of boredom? Aims: The current research investigated whether anticipated boredom intensifies subsequent boredom…

Biomedical engineering (BME) spans a wide range of research fields and professional activities. Most BME departments use a seminar series to introduce graduate students to exciting research conducted outside their own university, learn about professional opportunities, and enhance their understanding of related topics (e.g., ethics in BME,…

The published literature on lecture capture technologies is often conflicting and sometimes controversial. A common thread among many studies is the impact of recorded lectures on student satisfaction, attendance and performance; however, many of these studies fail to acknowledge the wider context and the many and varied ways in which capture…

Infinite series are known to be challenging for Calculus II students, perhaps because they lack intellectual need for the content. In their analysis of Calculus textbooks found few instances of potential intellectual needs for infinite series. This study combines a textbook analysis with interviews of four professors and observations of their…

Lecture-only style teaching where a teacher delivers content and students are tested on the retained information is the predominant approach in higher education. Alternatively, active learning is an instructional method in which students become engaged participants in the classroom through the use of in-class written exercises, games, problem…

This study compared undergraduate students' learning gains attained through student-led discussions with those acquired through teacher-led discussions in students who had previously engaged in a different learning activity. A total of 305 undergraduate students participated in the study. It was found that prediscussion activities yielded…

With the shift to online learning, many instructors have been forced into course delivery that involves educational lecture videos. There are a number of different elements that impact the quality of educational videos and overall student experience (e.g. instructor eye gaze, audio levels, screen sizing). More specifically, research has…

Higher education teaching abruptly changed during the COVID-19 pandemic to remote, on-line learning and teaching. The use of on-line communication software to teach became the norm and remains at many institutions. This software contains features, such as the chat, that offer teaching and learning advantages; however, potential benefits can be…