Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we share valuable insights and practical ideas on various educational topics. Our goal is to provide educators with fresh perspectives and innovative approaches that can be implemented in classrooms and institutions. This week, we’ve rounded up five resources on the importance of Authentic Assessment. Check them out below: 1. Why You Should Care About Authentic Assessments Authentic assessments involve the application of knowledge and skills in real-world situations, scenarios, or problems. This guide by UIC's Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence highlights several elements that make an assessment more "authentic," including accuracy, demonstration of learning, and collaboration. Read the full guide 2. Authentic Assessment's Long Term Impact on Student Learning Indiana University's Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning provides a comprehensive explanation of authentic assessments. These assignments require students to apply what they've learned to new situations, making judgments on what information and skills are relevant. Explore the resource 3. Alternative Authentic Assessment Methods UConn's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning offers a detailed overview of authentic assessments and alternative methods. This resource emphasizes the practical application of knowledge and skills by performing real-world tasks. Discover the methods 4. Macmillan Learning's Approach to Authentic Assessments This article from Macmillan Learning explores the relevance and challenges of authentic assessments. It highlights the importance of assessing higher-order critical thinking and self-regulated learning skills, with a focus on real-world contexts. Read the full article 5. Re-Imagining Authentic Assessment in the Age of Open AI A webinar on re-imagining authentic assessment amidst widespread AI usage. This session offers insights into preserving assessment integrity while leveraging AI for fair and meaningful evaluations. Access the recording We'd love to hear your thoughts on implementing authentic assessments in education. How do you create real-world assessment opportunities in your own classrooms? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments below. ... View more

In higher education, fostering a sense of belonging can transform classrooms into dynamic communities focused on learning and growth. The video below delves into this pivotal theme, offering insights from three educators who reveal their strategies for promoting connection and inclusivity. Through methods such as interactive introductions with GoReact and guided peer instruction using iClicker, these educators illustrate how building relationships among students not only enhances learning but also boosts retention and engagement. Watch the video to understand why a sense of belonging is crucial and discover tips to nurture it. ... View more

Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we share valuable insights and practical ideas on various educational topics. Our goal is to provide educators with fresh perspectives and innovative approaches that can be implemented in your classrooms. This week, we’ve rounded up five resources on Student Preparedness. Check them out below: 1. How To Identify Gaps in Student Preparedness and Address Them Conversations around student preparedness are becoming increasingly critical and challenging to have. While varying levels of student preparedness have long been an issue, many educators feel that it has only worsened in recent years. This blog aims to shine a light on the gaps in student preparedness and offers actionable steps for addressing these issues. Read the full blog 2. Assessing the Impact of Remote Learning on Students’ Preparedness & Progress The pandemic has influenced students' learning contexts and contributed to uncertainties related to the knowledge, skills, and experiences students have acquired. This resource from Northwestern University includes feasible practices for diagnosing gaps in preparation and making informed decisions about course design and instruction. Read the full article 3. Supporting Students with Diverse Levels of Student Preparedness This whitepaper explores how Achieve empowers each student to excel and equips them for academic and social-emotional readiness in their courses. It offers educators practical tips for supporting students at different readiness levels and strategies for fostering inclusive learning environments. Access the whitepaper 4. Student Readiness Challenges are Here to Stay. Is Your Institution Prepared to Tackle Them? EAB research identified four dimensions of student readiness that institutions must prepare to address both today and across the next decade. This blog explores the readiness challenge and provides insights and recommendations for addressing this crisis on your campus and beyond. Read the full article 5. Secondary Transition Toolkit: College Assessments The Maryland State Department of Education provides a toolkit to help students identify their learning styles, examine their study skills, and assess their college readiness. This toolkit includes an observation form and a planning tool to compare different educational options. Explore the toolkit We'd love to hear your thoughts on student preparedness. How do you address gaps in your own classrooms? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments below. Don't miss out on the upcoming webinar, "Beginning with the End in Mind: Evidence-based Course Design Practices to Improve Student Engagement and Learning Outcomes". on October 10th. Register today! ... View more

Midterms are a critical point in the academic calendar, and helping students prepare effectively can make a significant difference in their performance. It can be challenging to ensure that your students are not only ready but confident when exam day arrives. Achieve's resources—including Adaptive Quizzing, iClicker Study Tools, Multi-Take and Unpenalized Assessments, and Diagnostics—were created with your students in mind, offering personalized, interactive tools that meet their unique needs and study habits. We encourage you to explore and assign these resources in Achieve, so your students can truly reap their benefits. By doing so, you will provide your students with the best possible opportunities for self-study and success.     Adaptive Quizzing   Learning Curve Adaptive Quizzing in Achieve tailors the difficulty of questions based on what students know and helps them practice what they don’t yet understand. This feature ensures that students are constantly challenged at an appropriate level, making their study sessions more effective. How It Benefits Students Adaptive Quizzing helps students focus on areas where they need the most improvement. By adjusting the difficulty of questions, it keeps students engaged and motivated to learn. How Students Use It Students complete the adaptive quizzes by answering questions until they reach the target score. Along the way, they receive clear feedback based on their correct and incorrect answers—offering an easy way for students to review and assess their understanding of key concepts. The e-book is integrated into every question and there is no penalty for accessing it, encouraging students to read and boosting their preparedness. As students answer questions correctly, the questions get harder. Students receive more questions on the topics they struggle with. If they get stuck, they can see a hint (which reduces the point value of the question), or they can give up and move to the next question (resulting in zero points). During or after each LearningCurve activity, students can access a Personalized Study Plan, which breaks down their performance on each topic and presents them with suggestions for further practice.   How Instructors Assign It You can assign adaptive quizzes in the same way you assign other activities in Achieve. Learning Curve allows you to hide topics that aren't needed and adjust the target scores students need to complete each quiz. You can view LearningCurve results by class, topic, or by individual student. Learn more.   iClicker Study Tools   Included at no extra cost in most Achieve courses, iClicker includes a Study Tools feature that creates interactive and engaging study aids via the iClicker student mobile and web apps.  How It Benefits Students iClicker Study Tools transform classroom interactions into valuable at-home study resources, enhancing student retention and understanding. By creating flashcards and practice tests from in-class questions, students can review and reinforce their learning outside of class. How Students Use It Students can bookmark questions you've already asked in class and convert them into study tools within the iClicker app. They can create flashcards, take practice tests, and review material at their convenience. Learn more. How Instructors Enable It You can enable iClicker Study Tools by integrating iClicker activities into your course. Students will automatically have access to Study Tools, making study sessions more interactive and productive.    Multi-Take and Unpenalized Assessments   Multi-Take Quizzes provide students with multiple attempts to complete an exam or quiz. Unpenalized assessments offer students unlimited attempts at each question without penalties for incorrect answers, allowing them to use supplemental resources and view solutions afterward.  How It Benefits Students By offering multiple attempts, students can review their errors, understand where they went wrong, and try again. This iterative process boosts confidence and encourages mastery of the material by allowing students to learn from their mistakes and improve their scores. How Students Use It Students can complete the same Multi-Take Quiz up to five times, with each attempt providing insights into their performance. After each attempt, they can review the correct answers and explanations to better understand the material. The Unpenalized setting allows students unlimited attempts to complete each question with no penalty for wrong answers. They can use resources like the e-book (if available) to help them answer questions, and they can see the solution for each question after they complete it or give up. Regardless of which grading policy you select, students will see clear guidelines upon opening each assessment in Achieve. How Instructors Assign It Open up an assessment in your Achieve course, and select the Grading Settings tab. Select your preferred pre-built grading policy or create a new custom policy to fit the needs of your course.   Diagnostics   Diagnostics in Achieve courses for English and General Chemistry help identify students' strengths and weaknesses through initial assessments. These diagnostics create personalized study plans, ensuring that each student focuses on areas that need the most attention. How It Benefits Students Diagnostic assessments provide a clear picture of where students stand academically. The personalized study plans that follow help them concentrate on improving their weak spots, making their study time more efficient. How Students Use It Students begin with a diagnostic test that evaluates their understanding of key concepts. Based on their performance, Achieve generates a customized study plan with targeted resources and practice exercises. How Instructors Assign It Instructors can assign diagnostic tests at the beginning of the term or before midterms to gauge student readiness. The results help tailor instruction and support to meet the needs of each student. Grades for study plan assignments are based on how much of the study plan a student completes by the assigned due date or the end of the term. You can view Diagnostics results by class, topic, or by individual student.  ... View more

Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we share valuable insights and practical ideas on various educational topics. Our goal is to provide educators with fresh perspectives and innovative approaches that can be implemented your classrooms. This week, we’ve rounded up five resources on Sense of Belonging in Education. Check them out below: 1. 5 Components of Student Belonging Students' sense of belonging on campus is crucial for their retention and persistence. EAB has identified five specific components of student belonging, each backed by best practices that leaders can implement. These components help foster connections and engagement, ensuring students feel integrated into the university community. Access the infographic 2. Unlocking Historically Marginalized College Student Success This whitepaper identifies interventions that foster a sense of belonging and build metacognition among historically marginalized college students. The findings offer practical recommendations for educators to design inclusive educational products and services that improve postsecondary success outcomes for these students. Read the full whitepaper 3. Enhancing a Sense of Belonging in Your Classroom Indiana University's Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning provides a comprehensive guide on fostering a sense of belonging in classes, particularly in online learning environments. This resource offers actionable strategies for creating opportunities for student-instructor communication, facilitating student success, and building a virtual community. Read the full article 4. Sense of Belonging in College Settings Explore how students understand their role and social fit within college environments. It emphasizes the importance of both social and academic interactions in enhancing students' sense of belonging. Key strategies include fostering diverse peer interactions, offering strong faculty support, and creating an inclusive campus environment. Access the full one-pager 5. The Science of Belonging and Connection Stanford psychologist Geoffrey Cohen discusses the science behind belonging and connection in educational settings. This article explores research-backed strategies that educators can deploy to enhance students' sense of belonging and improve academic success. Read the full article We'd love to hear your thoughts on fostering a sense of belonging in education. How do you create inclusive environments in your own classrooms? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments below. Don't miss out on the upcoming webinar, "Not as Soft as You Think: The Hard Facts about the Impact of Student Sense of Belonging and Concrete Tools You Can Use Now" on September 17th to delve deeper into cultivating a sense of belonging in education. Register today! ... View more

Not as Soft as You Think: The Hard Facts about the Impact of Student Sense of Belonging and Concrete Tools You Can Use Now: Tuesday, September 17 at 2:00 PM ET Presented by Marcy Baughman and Tiffany Sayles Unlock the power of belonging to boost student learning outcomes. Marcy Baughman, VP of Learning Science Research, and Tiffany Sayles, webinar, where we delve into groundbreaking empirical data revealing the positive impact of a strong sense of belonging on academic achievement. Discover how fostering an inclusive classroom environment can elevate student engagement, motivation, and success. This session will equip you with evidence-based teaching tips and practical strategies to create a welcoming atmosphere that supports every student and improves student learning outcomes.   Watch the recording ... View more

As part of iClicker’s ongoing mission to make active learning more accessible to every educator, the team is always brainstorming features that make it easier to engage students and deepen their learning. You may have noticed iClicker’s newest feature, the Pre-Created Quiz. These are quizzes that you set up in advance for students to take during class within the iClicker Student App. Unlike Quick Start quizzes, a Pre-Created Quiz allows you to add an answer key and feedback ahead of time, randomize questions, and include a short-answer format. With these new in-class options, we wanted to share some ways that Pre-Created Quizzes can enhance learning in your course: 1. Checking for Understanding As an educator, you can kickstart your class with a Pre-Created Quiz to assess students’ understanding of assigned readings or homework – or quiz them at the beginning and end of class on the same topic to gauge what they’ve learned that day. These in-class quizzes will introduce students to your testing style in a low-stakes environment and help identify areas that may need further attention. 2. Flexible Learning Pace Pre-Created Quizzes give students the ability to navigate between questions and respond at their own pace. With this flexibility, you can promote individualized learning experiences and accommodate diverse learning speeds.  3. Efficient Grading and Immediate Feedback When you create your quiz before class, you can upload a pre-set answer key and feedback for each question. When students complete the quiz, their responses are instantly graded, and they can see your feedback and the correct answers for each question. Educators save time on grading responses, and students get immediate feedback that reinforces the concepts they’re learning.  4. Customization With Question Variety iClicker’s Pre-Created Quizzes support both multiple-choice and short-answer question formats. Customize your quiz questions with a variety of question types to keep quizzes engaging, promote critical thinking, and cater to your students’ different learning styles. 5. Encouraging Academic Integrity Pre-Created Quizzes give educators the ability to randomize question order for each student as they take their quiz in the iClicker Student App. Differing the question sequence from student to student helps mitigate the risk of cheating during quizzes, ensuring a fair and secure assessment environment. 6. Digital Transition Pre-Created Quizzes are an easy way to start replacing traditional paper quizzes with digital alternatives. The digital format lets students work in the environment they are most accustomed to, and it helps you make the transition to a more digital classroom. It also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the need for physical materials in the classroom. A Pre-Created Quiz may require a little more work up-front to create, but it offers so many advantages when it comes to streamlining your grading and feedback process and engaging students in new ways. As the expert on your own course, you’re sure to uncover even more ideas for making the most of this quiz format. How do you plan to use Pre-Created Quizzes with your students? ... View more

Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we dive into the ever-evolving world of generative AI and share valuable insights and practical teaching ideas. Discover how educators are leveraging AI, gain fresh perspectives, and explore innovative approaches to education that you can try out yourself. This week, we’ve rounded up five resources on Ethics and Academic Integrity in the Age of AI. Check them out below: An article on the importance of understanding, evaluating, and ethically engaging with generative AI tools in education, addressing concerns such as biases, privacy, and equity, and offering guidance for instructors and students on responsible use. A blog post addressing the inevitability of students using generative AI tools for cheating purposes while advocating to educate students on ethical AI practices to navigate them responsibly, offering ten key strategies for educators to implement in the classroom. An article about a high school teacher's shift from doubting AI use due to plagiarism fears to embracing it as an educational tool. It discusses practical assignments, responsible AI integration in the classroom, and the importance of ongoing teacher development in AI literacy. A study highlighting gender-based differences among educators' ethical evaluations of AI in classrooms, and emphasizing the need for critical thinking and ethical frameworks to navigate the adoption of generative AI tools in education. A toolkit for implementing AI in education, focusing on responsible use, compliance with regulations, promoting AI literacy, maintaining academic integrity, and preserving human decision-making.  Let us know your thoughts on ethics and academic integrity in the age of AI in the comments below the post. Don't miss out on the upcoming webinar, "Threading the Needle: Cultivating Ethical and Inclusive Teaching in an AI Era" on April 16th to delve deeper into AI in education. Register today! ... View more

Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we dive into the ever-evolving world of generative AI and share valuable insights and practical teaching ideas. Discover how educators are leveraging AI, gain fresh perspectives, and explore innovative approaches to education that you can try out yourself. This week, we’ve rounded up five resources on AI and DEI: Bridging Gaps and Fostering Understanding. Check them out below: A LinkedIn article with essential tips for AI professionals to effectively collaborate with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, adaptable communication, conflict resolution skills, embracing diversity, and seeking continuous feedback to foster inclusive and successful cross-cultural collaborations. A research article on the increasing prominence of AI in mainstream society, emphasizes the need for improved AI education and cultural adaptivity to address potential challenges and ensure responsible deployment of AI technologies. An on-demand webinar on using AI to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education by improving accessibility, creating inclusive classes, equitable admissions processes, and enriching the overall student experience. An article discussing a research study, exploring the role of machine learning in understanding and potentially addressing gender and racial disparities in STEM education, utilizing a dataset from middle school students to uncover factors contributing to biases and examining the risks and benefits of machine learning applications in educational settings. A list of six AI tools designed to foster inclusivity in classrooms, including interest-based learning, visual teaching strategies, differentiation, social scripts, age-appropriate explanations, and task analysis. Let us know your thoughts on AI and DEI in education in the comments below the post. Don't miss out on the upcoming webinar, "Threading the Needle: Cultivating Ethical and Inclusive Teaching in an AI Era" on April 16th to delve deeper into AI in education. Register today! ... View more

Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we dive into the ever-evolving world of generative AI and share valuable insights and practical teaching ideas. Discover how educators are leveraging AI, gain fresh perspectives, and explore innovative approaches to education that you can try out yourself. This week, we’ve rounded up five resources on AI in Education: Future Trends and Possibilities. Check them out below: An article outlining five predictions for the future of AI in education, including democratizing tutoring, personalized learning, AI tools for teachers/students, adjusting assessments, and fact-checking AI content.  A report from the U.S. Department of Education on the growing use of AI in education technology, and encouraging collaboration among educators, policymakers, researchers, and innovators to tackle policy issues, opportunities, and challenges linked to AI in education. An article exploring how AI technology in educational assessments can boost teaching and learning through diagnostic testing. It also discusses privacy, bias, and the human aspect of education, with suggestions for future testing research investment, and development. A LinkedIn post on navigating AI use in K-12 education and five predictions for AI innovation in 2024, including generative models, deepfakes, and AI in video games and social media. An article on combining AI performance prediction models with learning analytics feedback to enhance student learning in a collaborative context, providing insights for future AI-driven learning analytics development. Let us know your thoughts on future trends and possibilities of AI in education in the comments below the post. Don't miss out on the upcoming webinar, "A Whole New World: Exploring AI's Impact on Future Pathways of Education" on April 16th to delve deeper into AI in education. Register today! ... View more

Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we dive into the ever-evolving world of generative AI and share valuable insights and practical teaching ideas. Discover how educators are leveraging AI, gain fresh perspectives, and explore innovative approaches to education that you can try out yourself. This week, we’ve rounded up five resources on AI-Powered Teaching Assistants in the Classroom. Check them out below: A LinkedIn article exploring the evolving role of AI in education, from grading assignments to fostering critical thinking, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a human-centered approach while harnessing the potential of AI as teaching assistants. An article on how AI has the potential to make instructors' lives easier and lessons better; With tools like ChatGPT, educators can brainstorm ideas, create content, and focus on what really matters. An article on Shiksha Copilot, Microsoft's AI teaching assistant that can cut lesson planning from hours to seconds, empowering educators like never before. An article discussing how college educators are experimenting with AI, using tools like ChatGPT to channel Shakespeare and create innovative teaching methods, while also grappling with the ethical dilemmas that come along with it. An article detailing the advantages and hurdles of introducing AI teaching assistants in high schools draws inspiration from successful implementations in college settings. Let us know your thoughts on AI-Powered Teaching Assistants in the comments below the post. Don't miss out on the upcoming webinar, "A Whole New World: Exploring AI's Impact on Future Pathways of Education" on April 16th to delve deeper into AI in education. Register today! ... View more

Supercharge Your Question Creation: Hands-on AI-Powered Tools Focus Group: Thursday, April 18th at 3:00 PM Eastern Join us for a limited-seat virtual focus group taking place via Zoom, where you'll explore the iClicker's AI Question Creator, a groundbreaking tool designed to save you time and boost student engagement. In this interactive session, you'll: Be among the first to get hands-on experience with the AI Question Creator pilot Learn how to generate high-quality questions tailored to specific pedagogical goals for any topic in minutes Provide valuable feedback that shapes the future of the platform Discover how AI can help you create a more dynamic and engaging learning experience--on the spot!   Register for the Focus Grouo ... View more

Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we dive into the ever-evolving world of generative AI and share valuable insights and practical teaching ideas. Discover how educators are leveraging AI, gain fresh perspectives, and explore innovative approaches to education that you can try out yourself. This week, we’ve rounded up six resources on AI-Enhanced Professional Development for Educators. Check them out below: An article on the integration of AI in education, reflecting on historical perspectives and contemporary challenges while exploring the benefits AI offers, such as aiding gender equality in technology, supporting language learners, facilitating alternative instruction methods, and promoting critical thinking skills among students. An article explores how educators are incorporating AI tools into their teaching practices, discussing both the benefits and potential drawbacks, and featuring examples of teachers using AI for lesson planning, assisting English learners, and providing feedback on student work. An article advocating for educators to understand and embrace AI tools in their teaching practice, highlighting their potential to enhance personalized learning, improve efficiency, and streamline content creation, while also providing recommendations for AI-powered tools to facilitate teaching tasks and enhance student learning. An article highlighting the opportunities and challenges of employing AI systems to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment, and proposes recommendations to support educators and researchers in promoting AI education in classrooms and academia. An article on Mike Harris, an educator in Wichita leveraging tools like ChatGPT to streamline tasks like crafting lesson plans, igniting discussions about the technology's potential benefits and pitfalls among educators globally. A blog post on the importance of community, knowledge sharing, and collaboration for meaningful innovation and professional development in an AI era. Let us know your thoughts on AI-enhanced professional development for educators in the comments below the post. Looking for more? Teaching With Generative AI: A Course for Educators is a new professional development experience from the Institute at Macmillan Learning. Learn more about the course and sign up for early bird pricing here. ... View more

Welcome to "Try This!", a weekly blog series where we dive into the ever-evolving world of generative AI and share valuable insights and practical teaching ideas. Discover how educators are leveraging AI, gain fresh perspectives, and explore innovative approaches to education that you can try out yourself. This week, we’ve rounded up five resources on Student-Created AI Projects. Check them out below: An article highlighting the importance of involving students in the development and implementation of AI tools, showcasing initiatives like the YouthMADE Festival that empower younger generations to design solutions addressing real-world problems using AI technology. An article about a Princeton University senior, Edward Tian, who developed an app aimed at detecting essays authored by the AI chatbot ChatGPT, responding to concerns about AI-driven plagiarism in academia An example of a project out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where graphic design professors integrated artificial intelligence tools into classes to prepare them for AI usage in their future careers while emphasizing the importance of maintaining creativity and critical thinking skills. An article on Valerio Mirarchi, an MBA student at USF, who created Duets.ai to aid foreign language learners in achieving conversational proficiency, employing AI-generated personalized exercises based on recorded conversations.  An article on students at a New Jersey high school who are advocating for a more comprehensive approach to AI education, beyond just addressing cheating. The students conducted a survey revealing a keen interest in learning about AI's broader impacts and potential applications, prompting discussions about incorporating AI education into the curriculum. Let us know your thoughts on Student-Created AI Projects in the comments below the post. ... View more

Conversations around student preparedness are becoming increasingly critical and challenging to have. While varying levels of student preparedness have long been an issue, many educators feel that it has only worsened in recent years. Simultaneously, institutions and instructors also want to do more than ever to support student success — making it important to both understand gaps in preparedness and work to address them. You may have encountered challenges related to student preparedness gaps in your own course. Maybe you’ve found that several students don’t have the foundational knowledge that they should have acquired in a prerequisite course. Or maybe you’ve been surprised that students aren’t familiar with the social contract of higher education and don’t quite know what is expected of them. In these and similar situations, you’ve probably asked yourself “What exactly is going wrong?” You're not alone. This blog aims to shine a light on the gaps in student preparedness and offers actionable steps for addressing these issues. Identifying Gaps in Student Preparedness As an educator, you know when things aren't quite right, whether it's a general feeling of disconnect in the classroom or a pattern of underperformance. Recognizing that something might be off with your students' preparedness is an important first step, but it's just the beginning. By identifying the root causes of these issues, you can transform a hunch into information you can act on. Here are a few ways you can identify gaps in preparedness. Assess and Analyze  One tool you can use to uncover areas where students may struggle is careful assessment and analysis. You can even do this at the start of a semester before the most intensive parts of your course are underway. Utilizing tools such as course questionnaires, surveys, and diagnostic assessments can provide you with a wealth of insights into your students' existing knowledge and comprehension. By analyzing the results of such assessments, you'll be equipped with a clear picture of both individual and collective preparedness within your class, enabling you to tailor your teaching approach accordingly. Know The Signs  Recognizing the signs of unpreparedness can also guide educators in identifying gaps. These signs may manifest as distracted behavior, reluctance to participate in class discussions, inconsistent academic performance, or poor study and time management skills. Being attuned to these indicators is crucial for early intervention and support. While there’s not always a single, clear correlation between a sign of under-preparedness and the root cause of it, there are patterns that can be helpful to know. Avoidance of homework and assignments: Sure, some students just aren’t invested in your course or their own education. However, this could indicate a lack of understanding of the material or a feeling of overwhelm when faced with tasks perceived as too challenging. Distracted behavior: This could be a sign of environmental factors at home that are not conducive to learning, such as excessive noise or lack of a dedicated study space. In these cases, students may not have developed strong study skills and could be showing up to class unprepared to fully engage. Expressing feelings of hopelessness about a course or academic path: These feelings can stem from chronic underachievement and not meeting one's potential. Inconsistent academic performance: Fluctuations in grades and assignment quality could suggest many things from challenges with executive function to an incomplete understanding of course concepts.  Overreliance on tutoring or extra help: While seeking help is positive, an overreliance may indicate a deeper issue with self-directed learning or a lack of understanding of the core material. Reluctance to participate in class discussions: While some students are just shy, this may indicate a lack of confidence or understanding of the material.  Welcome One-on-One Interaction Finally, direct communication with your students can uncover layers of complexity behind the challenges they face. By fostering an environment where students feel safe to express their struggles, you gain invaluable insights into their individual experiences. This one-on-one interaction complements your observational and analytical efforts, providing a comprehensive view of the obstacles to student success. 4 Ways to Address Gaps in Student Preparedness There are many ways to address student preparedness gaps. Here are four that you can use in your course. Demonstrate and Encourage Better Study Habits While it's important for you to guide your students, their own efforts are ultimately what will get them across the finish line. By demonstrating effective study techniques and motivating your students to adopt these habits, you empower them to take control of their educational journey.  Not sure what study skills you want to encourage. Here are a few ideas. Active reading Metacognition Note-taking Self-direct learning Time management Achieve’s Goal-setting and Reflection Surveys can help students strengthen their metacognitive skills by encouraging them to set goals and reflect on their progress. These surveys invite them to identify study skills that work best for the way they learn and their lifestyle. Learn more about what you and your students can do with Achieve.  Scaffold Assignments As an instructor, implementing scaffolding in your teaching can significantly impact reaching every student at their level. By breaking down assignments into more manageable tasks, you can guide your students through the learning process step by step. This approach involves providing the right tools and support at each stage, making learning more accessible and less overwhelming for them. Scaffolding allows for a gradual release of responsibility, where your students are initially supported heavily but gradually gain independence as their competence increases. Differentiate Instruction Differentiated instruction is another strategy you can use to customize support to match your students' varying levels of understanding. This acknowledges that your students come into the classroom with diverse backgrounds, skills, and needs. By tailoring instruction to meet these differences, you effectively meet each student where they are. Differentiation can take many forms, including varying the content, process, or product at hand. Check out this blog post to learn more about differentiation. Make Sure Students Are Motivated Finally, fostering an active and engaging learning environment is key to motivating students. When learners are excited about participating, they're more likely to invest the effort needed to overcome their challenges. Creating a classroom atmosphere that values curiosity, collaboration, and active learning can make all the difference. Identifying and addressing gaps in student preparedness is a multifaceted challenge that requires a thoughtful approach. By assessing and analyzing student needs, recognizing the signs of unpreparedness, fostering personal interactions, teaching better study habits, employing scaffolding and differentiated instruction, and ensuring motivation, educators can make significant strides in preparing students for success.    Sources https://www.apa.org/ed/schools/primer/inattention https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/teach/problemstudent.html  https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/learning/conditioninfo/signs  https://teaching.cornell.edu/identifying-addressing-learning-gaps  ... View more