Didactic tips
Tips: short, practical advice on teaching, from active learning to assessment and accessibility.
These tips are copied from vu.nl/employee/didactics, where VU publishes them. Each tip shows when it was last changed there, with a link to the original.
Looking for worked activities that teach students to question generative AI? Those are the AI literacy exercises.
Motivated students with constructive alignment
Read what constructive alignment means and how to apply it at different levels for effective learning.
Tip 2An active learning assignment requires a safe learning climate
Read here how you can ensure a safe learning environment, for example, by agreeing on ground rules for interaction and discussion.
Tip 3How do you encourage students to do their self-study assignments?
Read here five practical approaches that make self-study assignments more of a priority than, say, side jobs and social media.
Tip 4How do you prevent free-riding in group assignments?
Collaboration assignments can be challenging. Learn how to make sure students don't experience them as a burden.
Tip 5Do you truly interact with your students in the lecture hall?
Do you think lectures aren't suitable for active learning? Read our three practical tips to make lectures truly interactive.
Tip 6Help students plan with a visually appealing overview
Create a clear visualization of the course structure by using, for example, a castle top plan or storyboard.
Tip 7Deeper learning through clever use of Canvas Discussions
Have students share their solution to a case study before class to achieve depth more quickly during the meeting.
Tip 8How to save time and improve your teaching - 1
You might give a partial grade on a 10-point scale, but why really? Learn here how to apply a simplified grading scheme.
Tip 9How to save time and improve your teaching - 2
For larger assignments, give students good and bad examples of completed work in advance to provide effective feed-up.
Tip 10How to save time and improve your teaching - 3
Don't grade all submitted assignments, but only some. Is this fair? Find out in part 3 of 3 tips based on Edström's Teaching Tricks.
Tip 11How to get students to provide and process peer feedback better
Peer feedback is an engaging way to make your teaching activating. Learn here how to achieve maximum quality and impact.
Tip 12Alternative approaches to hybrid teaching
Are you struggling with hybrid teaching? In this article, you will find 4 tips to improve your skills and some alternatives.
Tip 13How to get students to provide and process peer feedback better-2
In this follow-up to tip 11, we elaborate on improving the quality and impact of peer feedback.
Tip 14Strengthen the student's ownership of the learning process
Promote student involvement, for example by letting them help write exam questions.
Tip 18How to efficiently deal with the flow of questions from students
With the help of a student assistant or via FAQ or a Q&A forum? Learn how to limit the flow of questions about your course.
Tip 19How do you promote real learning during the lecture?
Learn 4 practical ways to actively engage your students so that your lectures don't end up being just monologues.
Tip 20You have your knowledge clip, but now what?
Knowledge clips can come in handy for active blended learning. Read how to get the most out of them here.
Tip 2110 characteristics of teachers who have impact on their students
Want to grow into an even better teacher? Read which essential characteristics Ken Bain has distilled from his research.
Tip 22How to create optimal bonding among students?
Student well-being is at the top of the agenda for VU. How do students themselves think optimal bonding among them can be achieved?
Tip 23The difference between blended, online and hybrid education
Blended, online and hybrid education - how to avoid confusion? Read more about the common meaning of these terms here.
Tip 24Dit willen studenten vasthouden na corona
Wat zijn de geleerde lessen van de pandemie en hoe kunnen we de positieve zaken vasthouden, ook na corona?
Tip 25This is how to design a super course - part 1
Find out the characteristics of courses that deliver a stupendous experience for students, or in other words: super courses! (part 1/2)
Tip 26Four effective ways to give students a say in your education
More effective student participation to improve your teaching? Read about four effective ways to organize that, here.
Tip 27How to make your Canvas course student friendly
Had enough of unprepared students? These six tips will help you create a Canvas course that prevents miscommunication.
Tip 28Constructive feedback? Ten tips!
Learn ten quick tips on how to give feedback to students as effectively and constructively as possible.
Tip 29This is how to design a super course - part 2
Find out the characteristics of courses that deliver a stupendous experience for students, or in other words: super courses! (part 2/2)
Tip 3010 characteristics of teachers who have impact on students - 2
Want to grow into an even better teacher? Learn in this sequel to teaching tip 21 the last five qualities.
Tip 32How many questions to include in a multiple-choice test?
Discover the rule of thumb for the number of multiple-choice questions in an exam and what else you should consider.
Tip 33How to combine open and closed questions in a test
In this tip you learn why you should combine open and closed questions in a test to exploit the strengths of both types.
Tip 34How to assess students in active blended learning
How to find the right combination of formative and summative assessment? Learn how to approach assessment in active blended learning here.
Tip 35Save time on assessment in active blended learning
Learn here how you implement tests most efficiently.
Tip 36How to develop a rubric
How to develop a rubric and what options to consider? In this tip you will find a step-by-step plan and tips and tricks for its use.
Tip 37Do’s and don’ts for effective peer feedback – part 1
Part one of the essential do's and don'ts for effective peer feedback, including short videos to share with your students.
Tip 38Do’s and don’ts for effective peer feedback – part 2
Part two of the do's and don'ts for effective peer feedback, including short videos to share with your students.
Tip 39VU Pride tips & tricks - create an inclusive learning environment
How to create an inclusive learning environment? VU Pride, the network for and by LGBTQIA+ students and employees, shares six tips.
Tip 40Design your course with ChatGPT or MS Copilot in 5 steps
How to employ ChatGPT or MS Copilot as a teaching assistant? Discover how you, as a teacher, can utilize generative AI.
Tip 41Stimulate the intrinsic motivation and autonomy of your students
Intrinsic motivation leads to better performance, and a more positive learning experience for students. Learn here how to encourage this.
Tip 42Stimulate generation of inner feedback for your students
This tip describes how to stimulate the process of inner feedback among your students, with 4 pointers for successful implementation.
Tip 43Stimulate deep reading and learning with online tools
Learn how Perusall and FeedbackFruits Interactive Document encourage students' deep reading and learning.
Tip 44Perusall vs FeedbackFruits, which tool should I use?
A brief comparison between FeedbackFruits and Perusall and their individual functionalities for teachers.
Tip 45Teach your students to use ChatGPT as a personal teacher
Discover how you can get students to use generative AI as a personal interactive teacher - for hyper personalized tutoring.
Tip 46How to VU-proof your teaching? Use this checklist!
In this tip, you find a checklist to make your education in line with the VU educational vision.
Tip 47How to guide students with writing assignments?
Learn how to support students with assignments such as essays, case studies or a thesis and the use of generative AI.
Tip 48How to set up the classroom for active learning?
In this teaching tip, you'll read about how to use different furniture arrangements to encourage active learning.
Tip 49How to consider neurodivergent students in your teaching
Dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or depression. In this tip, learn how to take neurodivergent students into account in your teaching.
Tip 50How to manage ‘hot moments’ in class?
In this tip, you'll learn how to handle an emotional, conflictive, or tense moment in the classroom.
Tip 515 active learning activities to teach students to work with AI
Through these active learning activities you teach students to use AI responsibly and to critically evaluate available information.
Tip 52Improve your students’ learning with a simple manual
Students do not automatically know how to learn best. Find out how can you help them do that in this tip.
Tip 53How to harness the power of self-assessment for students
Self-assessment for students is a powerful part of effective learning. Learn here how to apply this.
Tip 54Increase lecture attendance with a goal-intent questionnaire
Attending lectures is important for study success and student well-being. Find out how to increase lecture attendance here.
Tip 55Improve study success by deliberately assigning students a seat
Students at the front of the lecture hall often achieve better results. Read how you can influence study results by assigning seats.
Tip 56How to instruct effectively for independent work
Avoid a chaotic class, find out how to give effective instructions so that your students work independently.
Tip 57How to deal with ‘bad’ questions in a multiple-choice test?
‘bad’ questions, do you remove them? And how do you deal with the grade limit? These five steps help you tackle this systematically.
Tip 58How to increase the wellbeing of your students?
In this tip you will read what you can do to increase the wellbeing of your students, and when and to whom you can refer them.
Tip 59How to get the most out of your slides as a teacher
Find out how, as a teacher, you combine presentations with having students take notes for best learning outcomes.
Tip 60How to make the most of Mentimeter during your lecture
With Mentimeter, you can safely involve everyone in the material and allow them to share their opinion. Discover how, in this article.
Tip 61How to create ideal groups for group work
Learn how to use the FeedbackFruits Group Formation Tool in Canvas to intentionally group students based on specific characteristics.
Tip 62Active learning: why students do not immediately appreciate it
Discover why students often perceive active learning as less effective, while they learn more from it, and what you can do about it.
Tip 63Creating AI-aware assessments using the two-lane approach
Is it really effective to make assessment forms like essays and theses ‘AI-free’? The University of Sydney offers a useful perspective.
Tip 64Work smarter, not harder, with these 5 Canvas features
New Canvas features like Smart Search, Comment Library, Panopto, Speedgrader and Groups make your work as a teacher easier and faster.
Tip 65How to increase the learning effect of VR in your teaching
Virtual Reality offers realistic practice scenarios that are enhanced by a good didactic approach.
Tip 66How to enhance your AI competencies as a teacher
Find out how to improve and strategically apply your AI skills using the AI Literacy Competencies Framework.
Tip 67Learning styles debunked - what does work?
Discover why learning styles are a myth and how you can apply evidence-based strategies instead to improve education for all students.
Tip 68Bring theory to life with role-playing
Practical strategies to successfully facilitate role-playing and create a safe, engaging learning environment.
Tip 69Accessible and efficient teaching with open educational resources
Learn how to find, use, and share open educational resources in four practical steps.
Tip 70Engaging and challenging large groups - part 1
Discover how to deliver engaging and active learning, even when teaching large groups of students.
Tip 71Activate your students through the use of objects
Let students learn by feeling, smelling, exploring and interpreting with Object Based Teaching & Learning (OBTL).
Tip 72How to assess students’ peer feedback skills
How do you assess whether students give effective peer feedback? Use this rubric to evaluate and support their feedback skills.
Tip 73Engaging and challenging large groups - part 2
Learn how to manage assessment and feedback effectively when working with large student groups.
Tip 744 tips to make your Canvas course accessible for everyone
Start by using the accessibility checker and quickly set up all your Canvas courses to cater to everyone.
Tip 75How to support students with autism
Didactic 75: discover how to contribute to an inclusive learning environment as a teacher with these practical adjustments, which students endorse.
Tip 76How to consider students with dyslexia
Get started with these small modifications, including dyslexia-friendly font OpenDyslexic, and make your teaching more accessible.
Tip 77How to support students with ADHD
A predictable teaching structure, clear instructions, flexible assessment and more can help your students with ADHD reach their potential.
Tip 78How to support students with a chronic illness
Read how, as a teacher, you can increase study success and enjoyment with small adjustments, such as structure and flexibility.
Tip 79Making the most of AI tutors in your teaching
AI tutors enhance learning when properly integrated. Embed them in your course, coordinate, maintain control, and train students.
Tip 80From learning objectives to focus objectives
Concrete focus objectives help students study more effectively than the more familiar, but often too general learning objectives.
Tip 81From giving feedback to making feedback work
Make feedback work by focusing on the process. Create shared language, attend to emotion, and create room for action.
Tip 82Which phase of teaching practice are you in?
Discover which of the five phases of teaching practice you are in and how you can strengthen your teaching based on this.
Tip 83How to teach your students to reflect effectively
Help students reflect effectively with the 5C framework. Discover five principles that deepen reflection and make it meaningful.
Tip 84Make implicit rules explicit for first-generation students
Make implicit academic rules explicit and strengthen the sense of belonging among first-generation students.
Tip 85Writing as a thinking and learning process in the age of AI
Concentric thinking, the thinking process while writing, helps students prioritise, rephrase and connect information in the age of AI.
Tip 86How to teach students to truly reflect
Teach your students to reflect step by step using Korthagen's reflection model and to genuinely learn from their experiences.
Tip 87Silence in the lecture hall as a teaching tool
Silence in the lecture hall need not be a problem. Use silence deliberately as space for thinking, reflection and richer contributions.