Lauran Kerr-Heraly | Altering Course

Let's stay connected! Find me on bsky.app/profile/alteringcou…

Asked students what they remembered the most this semester. They all named an experience, not a fact or figure. This is why active learning matters. #activelearning #Teachers #communitycollege

Unlocking student potential starts with transforming traditional teaching! Listen to my podcast interview about active learning, PBL, gamification, and the critical role of executive function skills in education. #Education #ActiveLearning #PBL tinyurl.com/PBLpodcast

Instead of final exams, we have final celebrations. Students present creative projects based on their research, we share food, and we acknowledge all the hard work they've done throughout the term. #teacherlife #highered

A student noticed that I left my tea (horror!) on top of my car in the parking lot and brought it into class. They are a true hero.

This is what I'm always saying to students. If it's not written down, it's vague and your brain will respond with anxiety instead of accountability. #communitycollege #professorlife #teacherhacks bbc.com/future/article/20241…

I made #IVoted buttons for my students in our campus maker space. #communitycollege

Rethinking class participation: It's focusing, answering when called on, formative assessments, small group discussions, individual activities, arriving on time, etc. Students need to recognize a variety of contributions. #activelearning #HigherEd

📢 My article is featured! 🎓 As a community college professor, I wanted to share 5 things that I think everyone should know. Check out my piece on Grown and Flown. 👀 tinyurl.com/communitycollege…

Sometimes, being an educator feels more like being a case worker. #HigherEd #teacher

Students struggle with presentations and group work which is why we need to give them structure and opportunities to keep doing them. #teaching

Celebrating five years of service at Houston Community College. My roles are professor of history and innovation fellow are dear to me! @WeAreHCCS #twitterstorians #professorlife

I am still using this excellent simulation to teach about U.S. entry into WWI. jstor.org/stable/25163564?se… #twitterstorians #militaryhistory #simulation #activelearning

Me: Goes to a coffee shop to concentrate. Also me: Talks to the barista at length about how to go back to school and the merits of community college. #communitycollege #backtoschool #professorlife

If a student is late, I first ask them, "Are you okay?" Years later, a student told me today how much that meant to her and it's why she finished my class. #empathyfirst #professorlife

Me: For this oral history project, you will interview someone at least a generation above you in age. Student: So we can interview you, right? #twitterstorians #professorlife

Virtual office hours with a student who was too afraid to call me because she didn't understand an assignment and it's now overdue. More important to build a positive relationship in this moment than enact consequences. She's more equipped for success this way. #professorlife

Life skills and emotional preparation should be top of the list. What are #ExecutiveFunction Skills? Why do they matter for success in college? Read the full post: laurankerrheraly.com/blog/ex…

It warms my heart when a student tells me they never liked history because they didn't have the right teacher and I'm the right teacher and now they like history. #twitterstorians #professorlife

A simple way to stop students from rushing through an in-class activity: Tell them if they think they are done before the time limit, they aren't done. Ask them to review, provide more analysis, and double-check directions. #executivefunction #professorhack #teacherhack