A Slinky is a loose helical coil spring and is a well-known educational toy. In this paper a model for a Slinky is presented. The Slinky is represented as a sequence of rigid half coils connected by torsional springs. A range of Slinky configurations in static equilibrium are calculated. Where possible the torsion spring model is compared with the…

This article presents an inquiry-oriented lesson for teaching Lagrange's theorem in abstract algebra. This lesson was developed and refined as part of a larger grant project focused on how to "Orchestrate Discussions Around Proof" (ODAP, the name of the project). The lesson components were developed and refined with attention to how well…

The implementation of a laboratory exercise in an undergraduate chemistry course, where students perform a comparison of three different synthetic methods toward [Cu(Cl)(IPr)]-complexes (IPr = N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), is described. The students are introduced to the continuous improvement of reactions in terms of green…

Through galleries of graphs and short filmstrips, this paper aims to sharpen students' eyes for visually recognizing continuous functions. It seeks to develop intuition for what visual features of a graph continuity does and does not allow for. We have found that even students who can work correctly with rigorous definitions may not be able to…

This article is an exploration of the potential of a more purposeful application of criticality in undergraduate classrooms. Conventional pedagogy, often lecture-based, does not prepare students well for life, a career, or service toward the common good. A more critical approach in the classroom stimulates critical thinking, critical…

This paper reflects on teaching sport in political geography undergraduate courses in the United States, through which I simultaneously aim to de-essentialize geopolitics and de-essentialize sport. I integrate sport examples in diverse courses on political geography and teach a dedicated "Geopolitics of Sport" course. By framing my…

We present a concrete situation where there is a difference between the theoretical security of a cipher and its limitations when implemented in practice. Specifically, when entering a PIN, smudges on the keypad substantially reduce its security. We show how the number of possible keys in the presence of the "smudge attack" can be…

Experiential learning in biomedical engineering curricula is a critical component to developing graduates who are equipped to contribute to technical design tasks in their careers. This paper presents the development and implementation of an undergraduate and graduate-level soft material robotics design course focused on applications in medical…

The case summarises 14 years of experiences with undergraduate and graduate programmes in engineering leadership at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Literature reviews are often used as part of teaching undergraduates about secondary research. The assignment, however, presents challenges for inexperienced researchers and writers and can be difficult for instructors to read and grade. This "quick fix" piece offers an alternative assignment to begin students in gaining secondary…

Purpose: In the following theoretical article, the author generates a theory of Leadership Pedagogy and its connection to Creative Arts Education. Design/methodology/approach: The article analyzes Leadership Theory across three pillars: Socio-relational, Cognitive and Creative, and how these areas underscore thoughtful and caring pedagogy and…

This paper discusses the use of specification grading in sport management courses. The process organizes assignments around grading bundles and evaluates students as either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory in meeting each assignment. A token system is created to provide flexibility to the students. There are advantages to using specification…

In undergraduate life sciences education, open educational resources (OERs) increase accessibility and retention for students, reduce costs, and save instructors time and effort. Despite increasing awareness and utilization of these resources, OERs are not centrally located, and many undergraduate instructors describe challenges in locating…

Despite the fact that universities grew out of religious institutions in the Middle Ages and the first colleges in America were founded as religiously oriented institutions, it seems out of bounds these days to raise a question about the relation of the university and piety. In an ordinary undergraduate course in Philosophy of Religion the first…

In the precalculus curriculum, logistic growth generally appears in either a discrete or continuous setting. These actually feature distinct versions of logistic growth, and textbooks rarely provide exposure to both. In this paper, we show how each approach can be improved by incorporating an aspect of the other, based on a little known synthesis…