Within our Design for Learning Article Series, our team explores topics pertinent to teaching and learning within the College of Letters & Science.
We choose topics based on input from the L&S community, trends we observe in our work with L&S instructors, and current news and events.
Within each article, we rely on research literature to identify effective practices, gather examples and input from L&S instructors and students, and share practical steps and considerations to help you try something new in your classroom.
Current Articles
Break Down Major Assignments for Better Learning
March 2026
Three L&S instructors share how they apply scaffolding in their classroom. See how breaking down a major project, providing targeted practice with scientific literature, or reflecting on writing processes benefits student learning.
Supporting First-Year Students
January 2026
Review tips from research literature and examples from L&S instructors on how to support first-year students’ academic and social transition to college. Find inspiration and consider how you might incorporate these strategies into your own classroom.
Making Assignments More Authentic
September 2025
How might you motivate your students by incorporating authentic learning into your course activities and assignments? Explore the research on why authenticity matters and consider examples from L&S classrooms. We share tips small and big!
Suggest a Topic
We want to hear your ideas for future articles in our Design for Learning Series! We focus on local L&S examples, backed by research, that can help solve common teaching challenges. We gather input from instructors and students, as well as research literature. What teaching topic or trend would you like to know more about?