Evidence-based Teaching Strategies in Canvas

[dholton]

UPDATE: Here are the slides from a webinar on this topic.  I and my colleagues will also be presenting about this at OLC Accelerate 2019. 

I've shared a resource in Canvas Commons with some examples of brief, research-based teaching strategies implement..., such as: transparent assignments, minute papers, values affirmation, social belonging, goal setting, student testimonials, nudges, discussion protocols, wrappers, and midterm student feedback. 

You can preview this resource here.  You can also download an export of the Canvas resource in the attachment section below if you do not have access to Canvas Commons.

Evidence-based teaching refers to teaching strategies and principles for which there have been research studies indicating their effectiveness at improving student learning, engagement, attitudes, or other factors related to academic success.

This resource is not meant to be comprehensive.  As detailed in the table below, there are many different types and scopes of evidence-based pedagogical strategies and principles, and this resource only begins to tackle just one small part of this space.

And this is not to suggest that only evidence-based teaching strategies are useful or valid.  Just as in medicine, science, and other disciplines, we must constantly experiment with strategies when teaching, even when there is not, or especially when there is not, a solid research base to help inform decisions.

Some Categories of Evidence-Based Teaching Strategies & Principles

	Briefer, Targeted Strategies	Broader or More Comprehensive Techniques
More Concrete Strategies	These are some of the strategies covered in this Canvas resource: Minute Paper Student Testimonials Transparent Assignments Value Affirmation Discussion Protocols Nudges Wrappers Midterm Student Feedback Examples of some face-to-face in-class strategies (which are not addressed in this Canvas resource): Think-Pair-Share Classroom Response Systems / Clickers Two Stage Exams	Many of these broader teaching techniques derive from discipline-based educational research and development. Team-based Learning Simulations Peer Instruction Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) Problem-based Learning (PBL) High Structure Format Teaching Eportfolios Other High Impact Practices
More General Principles/Techniques	These are some strategies that primarily derive from cognitive psychology and mainly apply to practice and memory. Retrieval Practice / Testing Effect Spacing Interleaving	These are links to more comprehensive Canvas-related resources on effective teaching practices. Canvas Course Evaluation Checklist OEI Course Design Guide Humanizing Online Learning Canvas Accessibility Checklist OSCQR course quality rubric

More Online Resources about Evidence-based Teaching Practices

• Online Teaching Activity Index
• Pedagogical Approaches for Teaching and Learning with Canvas
• Humanizing Tool Buffet
• SERC - Pedagogy in Action
• Physport - resources based on physics education research (PER)
• Active Learning Techniques
• Twenty-One Teaching Strategies to Promote Student Engagement and Cultivate Classroom Equity
• 100+ Activities for Motivating and Retaining Learners Online

Books for Further Reading on Evidence-based Teaching Practices

• Reaching Students: What Research Says About Effective Instruction in Undergraduate Science and Engin... (free ebook; NRC, 2015)
• Instructional Practices Guide: Guide to Evidence-Based Instructional Practices in Undergraduate Math... (free ebook; MAA, 2018)
• Applying Science of Learning in Education: Infusing Psychological Science into the Curriculum (free ebook; TeachPsych, 2014)
• Levers for Change: An assessment of progress on changing STEM instruction (free ebook; AAAS, 2019)
• Improving How Universities Teach Science: Lessons from the Science Education Initiative (Wieman, 2017)
• Teaching and Learning STEM: A Practical Guide (Felder & Brent, 2016)
• Online Teaching at its Best (Nilson & Goodson, 2018)
• Teaching for Learning: 101 Intentionally Designed Educational Activities to Put Students on the Path to Success (Major et al., 2016)

Some Other Potential Canvas Activities that Could be Included in the Future

• Online Readiness Self-Assessment
• Framing
• Growth Mindset Self-Assessment & other Wise Interventions
• Peer Assisted Reflection

Your Suggestions, Comments are Welcome

Feel free to comment below with suggestions for other activities to include or improvements to make to these samples.  Or share your own examples on Canvas Commons, like the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory survey Kyle Heatherly shared and that I copied in this Canvas resource.

evidence-based-teaching-strategies-in-canvas-export.imscc.zip