The Learning and Teaching Nexus
at the New York University School of Professional Studies (SPS) works at the intersection of institutional schooling, workplace and professional advancement, and self-directed learning to explore educational possibilities in the Post-Information Age.
Online Zoom Discussion Activities for Social Connection and Learning
Have you ever asked your students a question, only to be met with a long awkward silence? Fostering deep discussions can be a real challenge in an online class! Luckily, you can structure your discussions to draw out more student engagement and deeper social learning connections in class. Why are students quiet? Low willingness to communicate can come from general shyness, lack of confidence in ideas or opinions, lack of confidence in language skills or the general dislocation of the online...
Getting Beyond the Lecture in Online Synchronous Classes
Teaching in a new modality (e.g., online asynchronous, HyFlex) requires rethinking how to plan and deliver your class. But there’s good news! Online in Zoom or live in-person, the fundamentals of student-centered teaching are the same. We still want to center learner voices, draw on their experiences and opinions, and facilitate interaction and connection among learners. The challenge online is figuring how to leverage technologies to best support students’ education. Best Practices for...
Personalizing Student Assignments
Image: Aviavlad, Pixabay, 2026 I remember my favorite project from third grade. We were asked to demonstrate a 'how-to' procedural writing piece as a presentation. "Think of what you like to make," was our teacher's guidance. Growing up in hot Florida, I chose to model the steps to make fresh, ice-cold lemonade. I poured my heart and soul into my project. And I still remember one of my classmates, Alexandria, presenting how to make food sculptures with found objects at home: first stretch...