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COACHes

Revealing Hidden Time Constraints: How Workload Transparency Strengthens SLO Assessment

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. Inspired by a recent Friday SLO Talk featuring Dr. Leslie Jennings, Missina Minter, Megan Zara, and Dr. Stacy Greathouse from The University of Texas at Arlington. Imagine registering for a course that looks manageable only to find out halfway through that the reading load is crushing, the assignments are endless, and […]

Designing for Discovery: Credentialing as a Tool for Human Connection

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. What if credentials weren’t just about certifying completion—but about catalyzing connection? At a recent Friday SLO Talk, Noah Geisel delivered a compelling challenge to how we think about digital credentials, student learning outcomes, and the very role of recognition in education. In his words, badges and micro-credentials are not products—they are […]

Designing with Depth: A Dialogue on AI, Assessment, and Learning Outcomes Beyond Bloom

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. In higher education, conversations about learning outcomes often orbit one central framework: Bloom’s Taxonomy. It’s ubiquitous in curriculum design, accreditation rubrics, and faculty workshops. But what if Bloom isn’t enough? At a recent Friday SLO Talk, Dr. Gavin Henning encouraged educators to think beyond traditional cognitive frameworks. He introduced alternative taxonomies […]

Micro-Credentials and the Hidden Curriculum: Surfacing the Unsung Skills

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. Education is full of signals. Transcripts, GPA, course titles, and degrees all tell a story but not always the full story. At a recent Friday SLO Talk, Noah Geisel reminded us that much of what makes a student truly prepared for life and work is never reflected in these conventional signals. […]

The “Holy Hail” Standard: Why Every SLO Should Echo Across Your Course

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. Inspired by a recent Friday SLO Talk featuring Dr. Leslie Jennings, Missina Minter, Megan Zara, and Dr. Stacy Greathouse from The University of Texas at Arlington. One of the most powerful lessons from the recent Friday SLO Talk was not about adding complexity to assessment. It was about eliminating confusion.The team […]

Observable Confidence: Reducing Math Anxiety to Elicit Demonstrable Learning

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. In a recent Friday SLO Talk, Dr. Ruth Lane emphasized that many students especially in online or accelerated math courses arrive with high levels of anxiety. This isn’t just emotional discomfort; it directly interferes with learning. Students who are terrified of getting it wrong may avoid showing their work, posting in […]

SLOs in the Age of Pivot: Designing for Learners Who Won’t Stay in One Career

By Jarek Janio, Ph.D. How many careers does one education prepare you for? If you’re still thinking in singular terms—a “job,” a “career path,” or a “major”—you may be designing Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for a world that no longer exists. As Robert Bajor, founder and CEO of Micro Credential Multiverse, reminded us in his […]

Do Submarines Swim? Rethinking AI and Inquiry in Higher Education.

AI, Questioning, and the Evolving Role of Faculty in Higher Education Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often described as “thinking for us,” which leads to compelling discussions about how faculty might shape its use in educational contexts. Although AI can generate answers to complex questions, the way it does so differs substantially from human thought. AI […]

Bill Heinrich and Patrice Ludwig on Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Experiential Learning

Maximizing Student Learning Outcomes Through Experiential Learning: Insights from Friday SLO Talks The October 4th, 2024 session of Friday Student Learning Outcomes Talks (SLO Talks) explored how experiential learning can drive better assessment practices and foster deeper student engagement. This discussion, led by experts in higher education, highlighted both theoretical and practical insights that faculty […]

Friday SLO Talks (3/8/24): CBE – Playing With Fire!

This interactive session explores Competency-Based Education (CBE) through a fire technology lens. Engage with interactives, learn to define & assess essential skills, and see how hands-on learning brings theory to life. Learn how to use Canvas to keep track of your students learning, how to design assessment rubrics and assess student skill and competency. Leave […]

Designing for Discovery: Credentialing as a Tool for Human Connection

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. What if credentials weren’t just about certifying completion—but about catalyzing connection? At a recent Friday SLO Talk, Noah Geisel delivered a compelling challenge to how we think about digital credentials, student learning outcomes, and the very role of recognition in education. In his words, badges and micro-credentials are not products—they are […]

Designing with Depth: A Dialogue on AI, Assessment, and Learning Outcomes Beyond Bloom

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. In higher education, conversations about learning outcomes often orbit one central framework: Bloom’s Taxonomy. It’s ubiquitous in curriculum design, accreditation rubrics, and faculty workshops. But what if Bloom isn’t enough? At a recent Friday SLO Talk, Dr. Gavin Henning encouraged educators to think beyond traditional cognitive frameworks. He introduced alternative taxonomies […]

Micro-Credentials and the Hidden Curriculum: Surfacing the Unsung Skills

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. Education is full of signals. Transcripts, GPA, course titles, and degrees all tell a story but not always the full story. At a recent Friday SLO Talk, Noah Geisel reminded us that much of what makes a student truly prepared for life and work is never reflected in these conventional signals. […]

The “Holy Hail” Standard: Why Every SLO Should Echo Across Your Course

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. Inspired by a recent Friday SLO Talk featuring Dr. Leslie Jennings, Missina Minter, Megan Zara, and Dr. Stacy Greathouse from The University of Texas at Arlington. One of the most powerful lessons from the recent Friday SLO Talk was not about adding complexity to assessment. It was about eliminating confusion.The team […]

Observable Confidence: Reducing Math Anxiety to Elicit Demonstrable Learning

by Jarek Janio, Ph.D. In a recent Friday SLO Talk, Dr. Ruth Lane emphasized that many students especially in online or accelerated math courses arrive with high levels of anxiety. This isn’t just emotional discomfort; it directly interferes with learning. Students who are terrified of getting it wrong may avoid showing their work, posting in […]

SLOs in the Age of Pivot: Designing for Learners Who Won’t Stay in One Career

By Jarek Janio, Ph.D. How many careers does one education prepare you for? If you’re still thinking in singular terms—a “job,” a “career path,” or a “major”—you may be designing Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for a world that no longer exists. As Robert Bajor, founder and CEO of Micro Credential Multiverse, reminded us in his […]

Do Submarines Swim? Rethinking AI and Inquiry in Higher Education.

AI, Questioning, and the Evolving Role of Faculty in Higher Education Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often described as “thinking for us,” which leads to compelling discussions about how faculty might shape its use in educational contexts. Although AI can generate answers to complex questions, the way it does so differs substantially from human thought. AI […]

Bill Heinrich and Patrice Ludwig on Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Experiential Learning

Maximizing Student Learning Outcomes Through Experiential Learning: Insights from Friday SLO Talks The October 4th, 2024 session of Friday Student Learning Outcomes Talks (SLO Talks) explored how experiential learning can drive better assessment practices and foster deeper student engagement. This discussion, led by experts in higher education, highlighted both theoretical and practical insights that faculty […]

Friday SLO Talks (3/8/24): CBE – Playing With Fire!

This interactive session explores Competency-Based Education (CBE) through a fire technology lens. Engage with interactives, learn to define & assess essential skills, and see how hands-on learning brings theory to life. Learn how to use Canvas to keep track of your students learning, how to design assessment rubrics and assess student skill and competency. Leave […]