Agile Faculty

Digital tools have long been a transformative part of academia, enhancing the classroom and changing the way we teach. Yet there is a way that academia may be able to benefit more from the digital revolution: by adopting the project management techniques used by software developers. Agile work strategies are a staple of the software development world, developed out of the need to be flexible and responsive to fast-paced change at times when “business as usual” could not work. These techniques call for breaking projects into phases and short-term goals, managing assignments collectively, and tracking progress openly. Agile Faculty is a comprehensive roadmap for scholars who want to incorporate Agile practices into all aspects of their academic careers, be it research, service, or teaching. Rebecca Pope-Ruark covers the basic principles of Scrum, one of the most widely used models, and then through individual chapters shows how to apply that framework to everything from individual research to running faculty committees to overseeing student class work. Practical and forward-thinking, Agile Faculty will help readers not only manage their time and projects but also foster productivity, balance, and personal and professional growth.

Digital tools have long been a transformative part of academia, enhancing the classroom and changing the way we teach. Yet there is a way that academia may be able to benefit more from the digital revolution: by adopting the project management techniques used by software developers. Agile work strategies are a staple of the software development world, developed out of the need to be flexible and responsive to fast-paced change at times when “business as usual” could not work. These techniques call for breaking projects into phases and short-term goals, managing assignments collectively, and tracking progress openly. Agile Faculty is a comprehensive roadmap for scholars who want to incorporate Agile practices into all aspects of their academic careers, be it research, service, or teaching. Rebecca Pope-Ruark covers the basic principles of Scrum, one of the most widely used models, and then through individual chapters shows how to apply that framework to everything from individual research to running faculty committees to overseeing student class work. Practical and forward-thinking, Agile Faculty will help readers not only manage their time and projects but also foster productivity, balance, and personal and professional growth.

In the dynamic environment of education, the traditional methods employed by educators are struggling to keep pace with the evolving needs of students in the 21st century. The challenge lies in fostering an environment that not only engages students but also equips them with the skills essential for the modern world. Teachers find themselves navigating a complex terrain where outdated pedagogical approaches fall short of unlocking the full potential of diverse learning styles and unique talents within their classrooms. Enhancing Education With Intelligent Systems and Data-Driven Instruction is a groundbreaking book that goes beyond the constraints of conventional teaching methods, offering a comprehensive guide that inspires and equips educators with innovative tools and approaches. From integrating innovative technology to cultivating collaborative learning environments, the book provides a roadmap for educators to reimagine their teaching practices. By embracing student-centered approaches, fostering diversity, and utilizing digital tools effectively, this book empowers teachers to transform their classrooms into dynamic hubs of inspiration, motivation, and empowerment.

Introduction -- Times for telling -- Practice and feedback -- Thin slices of learning -- Knowledge organizations -- Multimodal assignments -- Learning communities -- Authentic audiences -- Conclusion.

Foundational Practices in Online Writing Instruction addresses administrators’ and instructors’ questions for developing online writing programs and courses. Written by experts in the field, this book uniquely attends to issues of inclusive and accessible online writing instruction in technology-enhanced settings, as well as teaching with mobile technologies and multimodal compositions.

"This book blends narrative, evidence-based research, professional advice, and reflection opportunities to help faculty in higher education understand career burnout and work to overcome it personally and begin to eradicate the conditions that cause it"--

This edited collection addresses the need of evaluating innovative or non-traditional academic schemes for understanding their feasibility in extraordinary educational environments. The individual chapters are enriched with robust appraisals of policies and practices linked to academic innovations in higher education during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The case studies report wide-ranging teaching, learning and academic support practices within online, open, blended and distance learning models. The findings supply two domains of scholarship: evidence-based scenarios through real-world case studies, and a critical evaluation of educational quality through research-informed argument. The evidence gathered from countries, such as Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the UK show empowering and deterring elements of academic innovation amid disruptions. Although this book highlights academic innovations in disruptive situations, they emerge as powerful tools and approaches to be considered in traditional face to face learning.

Although the advancement of educational technologies is often discussed in a teaching capacity, the administration aspect of this research area is often overlooked. Studying the impact technology has on education administration not only allows us to become familiar with the most current trends and techniques in this area, but also allows us to discover the best way forward in all aspects of education. The Handbook of Research on Technology-Centric Strategies for Higher Education Administration is a pivotal resource covering the latest scholarly information on the application of digital media among aspects of tertiary education administration such as policy, governance, marketing, leadership, and development. Featuring extensive coverage on a broad range of topics and perspectives including virtual training, blogging, and e-learning, this book is ideally designed for policy makers, researchers, and educators seeking current research on administrative-based technology applications within higher education.