Professional insight from Athens State University

Athens State University serves junior-level, senior-level and graduate students to complete or advance their degrees and build brighter futures. With a flexible approach to learning that supports non-traditional college students, Athens State focuses on producing graduates with the skills that employers are looking for.

Athens State University

A bridge leading off into the distance

Find purpose and identity in the ‘near-end’ season of an academic career

As careers near their later stages, familiar markers of achievement fade and professional identity shifts. Wendy Cowan and Bridgette Walker explore how academics can move from proving value to mentoring, shaping legacy and finding renewed purpose

Wendy Cowan, Bridgette Walker

Athens State University

Top down view of colleagues sat around a table planning

Bring your institutional goals to life with project-based planning

Project-based strategic planning transforms the traditional approach by focusing on iterative, measurable actions tied to specific projects, all aligned with broader institutional objectives

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University

podcast graphic

Campus talks: the tricky relationship between assessment and learning

Hear three US academic experts discuss what role assessment should play in higher education and how it can be improved

Susan D. Blum, Catherine Wehlburg, Josh Eyler

University of Notre Dame, Athens State University, University of Mississippi

A teacher mentoring a student

A recipe for effective undergraduate research mentorship

Strategies for giving effective feedback, addressing common challenges and fostering a supportive and productive mentor-student relationship

Jamie Gilbert Mikell

Athens State University

A lightbulb against a pink background

Ways to create time and mental space for strategic innovation in higher education

How higher education institutions can better position themselves to adapt and innovate

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University

Conceptual image of someone using AI generated knowledge

How ChatGPT killed my discussion boards and prompted new prompts

Advice on learning and discussion prompts that require students to think beyond the remit of AI responses

Sara Cline

Athens State University

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

Campus talks: how the university library is an agent of change

Often overlooked, university libraries are critical to the teaching and research missions of institutions. They also play a key role in digital innovation and community outreach. Two librarians tell us more about how they see their work as agents of change

Masud Khokhar, Toni Carter

University of Leeds, Athens State University

Group of officials in discussion

How to convey the benefits of higher education to government and policymakers

From identifying the decision-makers to presenting clear evidence, Jamie Gilbert Mikell shares tips for communicating the value of higher education to government and policymakers in the US

Jamie Gilbert Mikell

Athens State University

Four students each responding differently to an assignment question

Tips (from a librarian) for creating assignment prompts

A guide to crafting and writing clear assignment instructions that students can understand and follow

Toni Carter

Athens State University

A tired looking man at his laptop rubbing his eyes

Understanding compassion fatigue and how to prevent it

Tips and strategies for reducing compassion fatigue among university faculty and staff

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University

Image of a person hidden behind a large question mark

My teacher’s a robot: beating negative perceptions when teaching online

Students on online courses complain of a lack of interaction, motivation and familiarity with teachers, research shows. Wendy Cowan looks at how to build ‘instructor presence’ into online courses

Wendy Cowan

Athens State University

Image representing a grading process

Analytic rubric design fundamentals

A beginner’s guide to creating an analytic rubric which can be used by tutors to accurately mark and feedback on assignments, but also by students themselves to guide their work

Jamie Gilbert Mikell

Athens State University

Online training

Course module design and structure for beginners

Building an online course from scratch can seem overwhelming. Here, Jamie Gilbert Mikell shares basic guidelines for beginners to create streamlined and user-friendly online modules

Jamie Gilbert Mikell

Athens State University

Image showing one person striding off with a crowd following

Build your teaching presence to better engage students

A strong ‘presence’ in the classroom can help imbue students with a passion for your subject and willingness to learn. Catherine Wehlburg explores simple ways to enhance teaching presence

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University

Image of a student taking part in a live online class

Introducing an activeflex teaching model into pre-existing online courses

Steps for designing and implementing an activeflex model of teaching in pre-existing online courses, shared by Marla Williams

Marla Williams

Athens State University

Image depicting ways to communicate effectively with students

Beyond the limits of the LMS: ways to communicate effectively with students

How to communicate with students in the online environment in effective and creative ways that go beyond relying on the learning management system, described by Kris Erskine

Kris Erskine

Athens State University

Lecturer recording a lesson for an ActiveFlex course taught online and in person

The mechanics of teaching a multi-section “activeflex” course

Lessons on the mechanics of bringing faculty together to teach a multiple-section class using the activeflex learning model, by Morgan Stanford

Morgan Stanford

Athens State University

Image of people learning in different modalities - online, in-person and hybrid learning

The evolution of activeflex learning: why and how

The evolution of activeflex learning as a way to keep students engaged online, and how to overcome problems when using this teaching model, by Mark Gale

Mark Gale

Athens State University

A student learning online during a hyflex class session

Classroom management strategies to enhance hyflex learning

Effective classroom management strategies that keep students engaged during hyflex courses, by Letitia Bergantz

Letitia Bergantz

Athens State University

Advice on where technical assistance is most needed for ActiveFlex courses

Three priority areas for technical assistance in hyflex and activeflex teaching

Effective technical support is a key component in ensuring instructors and students enjoy a positive learning experience in an activeflex format. Grayson Simmons explains where this support should be focused

Grayson Simmons

Athens State University

Designing effective reinforcement activities for university teaching in person and online

How to design effective reinforcement activities for activeflex courses

How to effectively design reinforcement activities for the activeflex course to maximise student engagement, by Joy Oettel

Joy Oettel

Athens State University

Tips for engaging online learners using group activities to increase their sense of belonging

Engaging online learners using group activities

Online learning can leave students feeling lonely and disengaged. Tracy DeCicco explains how incorporating group activities into coursework can get them re-engaged with the materials – and each other

Tracey DeCicco

Athens State University

Advice on designing assessments that encourage students to show off their learning in authentic ways

Assessment design that supports authentic learning (and discourages cheating)

Catherine Wehlburg shares tips for creating a learning environment and assessment design that encourages authentic learning and reduces the temptation to cheat

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University