Tip: Summertime Madness
Condensing Courses -Adapting to Accelerated Summer Semesters
As summer rolls around, many of us face the challenge of condensing our traditional 15-week courses into a more accelerated 8-week (or shorter) format. With a shorter time frame, we need to be strategic about what learning activities will remain the same, and what needs to be revised to meet the accelerated timeframe. We also need to - deliberately and explicitly - define the learning experience that students will encounter, from workload expectations to peer engagement.
1️⃣Redesign Assignments and Assessments.
Fewer weeks means rethinking traditional assignments, and summer is a perfect time to experiment with offering alternative ways for students to demonstrate mastery of course learning objectives. For example, you might allow them to replace multi-stage research papers designed to be completed over 15 weeks with more concise applied projects. Think about ways to encourage students to be creative with authentic assessments that reinforce core skills and content.
A shortened semester is also a good time to incorporate multiple lower-stakes assignments rather than high-pressure midterms and final exams. Consider integrating frequent low-stakes assessments such as quizzes or short assignments to keep students on track and provide them with regular feedback.
2️⃣Leverage Asynchronous Learning.
Consider leveraging technology for asynchronous content delivery or flipping the classroom to maximize in-person or synchronous time. The accelerated pace necessitates a blended approach, but simply recording lectures for students to view asynchronously doesn’t always engage students - the last thing we want is to take valuable time recording lectures students won’t watch. Instead, shorter videos (microlectures) with built-in “pause points” of interactive quizzes, written response prompts, or note-taking will encourage active watching.
3️⃣Maximize Student Engagement
In a condensed timeframe, we need to make the most of precious class meetings by incorporating active, collaborative learning strategies such as case studies, debates, think-pair-share, and other methods that require students to engage with their peers. These “hands-on” activities have two key benefits. First, collaborative activities get students to focus on the application of course concepts. This type of challenging cognitive work should happen in the classroom. when you're there to facilitate and answer questions. Second, working with peers fosters community and collaboration, which is particularly important in intensive summer courses.
4️⃣Clear Communication and Expectations
Many of our students will enroll in a summer semester course expecting fewer weeks to mean less work, and it’s vital that we are explicit about how compressed courses actually work by clearly communicating expectations for workload and participation, as well as the support resources available to students. As much as possible, providing a detailed schedule outlining each week’s activities and learning goals will help students understand what it means to take a compressed course. I’ve written previously about how to approach setting expectations with students from a place of non-judgment and empathy
By approaching the transformation with creativity, flexibility, and a student-centered mindset, we can successfully transition from a 15-week course to an 8-week or shorter summer semester course.
If you teach in the summer - or another compressed semester schedule - what are the most important changes you make?
To read more…
Preparing for Shortened Academic Terms: Guide, Workbook, and Spotlights
Short and Sweet: The Educational Benefits of Microlectures and Active Learning
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BREANA! You have a new fan (and subscriber!) I love when teachers use their passion and abilities to help support, uplift and empower other educators!
I thought of your breakdown to be easy to follow and being about to experiment during these summer times! I think during the summer it's so important for educators to be able to stop and reflect and keep on learning!
Thank you so much! Can't wait to see more!
At my university we now teach 7-week courses as standard now, and a lot of what you say hear chimes with the experiences we have had since adopting this model.