This Week for Faculty: 🏁 Tips for the final stretch of the semester
Tips for the final stretch of the semester
As the end of the semester approaches, it’s a busy time for you and your students. Here are a few tips to support your students’ learning, ease the stress of the final stretch, and take care of yourself.
Communicate expectations clearly.
Ease student anxiety and reduce the flood of last-minute emails by reminding students of exam or final assessment details, due dates, your grading policies, when they can expect final grades or feedback, etc. This can prevent confusion as students are enrolled in multiple courses, each with different student expectations.
Connect students to resources.
The final stretch can be overwhelming. Remind students of the support available to them on campus. An email reminder, CourseWorks announcement, and mention in class can go a long way. Resources to share might include: the Writing Center, Columbia Libraries, Columbia Health, Alice! Health Promotion, Counseling and Psychological Services, Disability Services, Food Pantry, academic success programs and tutoring. The Blue Folder provides the tools to identify, address, and refer students in distress appropriately.
Create opportunities for students to reflect on what they learned.
To make the last class meaningful, engage students in a reflective activity. Ask students to list their top three takeaways, discuss what they learned / the ways they achieved the course learning objectives, or write a short letter to your future students in which they share tips, what surprised them, and what helped them learn. This builds students’ metacognition and provides closure for the course.
Check in with yourself.
Teaching at the end of the semester can be exhausting. Recognize your effort and engage in acts of self-care to help you get to the finish line. Take 10-minute breathers, get rest, connect with colleagues, write a note for your future self noting: what worked this semester? What will you tweak? Access resources to support you through times of stress.
In case you missed it: panel recording available
On April 9, 2025, the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching and Learning hosted this panel to celebrate teaching and learning at Columbia and the CTL’s 10th anniversary.
Panelists David Helfand, Monica Lypson, and Larry Jackson shared insights from the past ten years of teaching, their innovations in pedagogy, discussed their collaborations with the CTL, and looked ahead to the next decade of teaching at Columbia. The session was moderated by Amanda L. Irvin, Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Inspired to innovate in your teaching? Connect with us! The CTL is here to support you. We’d love to hear your ideas and explore how we can partner with you or your department. Reach out to us at CTLfaculty@columbia.edu to start the conversation.
Upcoming: in-person Office Hours | May 5 – May 20
Walk-in to 212 Butler, May 5 through May 20
Meet with CTL Learning Designers during in-person Office Hours!
From May 5 through May 20, stop by 212 Butler Library on weekdays between 9:00AM and 5:00 PM for in-person support to help you wrap up the Spring 2025 semester. CTL Learning Designers can assist you with CourseWorks, your CourseWorks Gradebook, and other Columbia-supported instructional technologies.
In-person support is always available by appointment! To schedule an appointment, contact the CTL at ColumbiaCTL@columbia.edu.
The CTL is here to help!
Connect via Zoom or over the phone
Join us for office hours via Zoom (or phone) Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm to have your teaching with instructional technology questions answered.
Schedule a consultation
Schedule an in-person or virtual consultation to discuss any teaching and learning need by emailing ctlfaculty@columbia.edu or email the CTL Learning Designer assigned to your school or department.