Change magazine has an interesting article about course redesign at MIT in the physics department. The impetus to redesign came about because of the high failure rate in physics I and II courses. MIT utilized a best practices model names TEAL (Technology Enabled Active Learning). To quote from the article, "TEAL prevailed because everything was in place that was needed for an initiative of its scale to succeed. First, the reform was centered in a department. The introductory physics courses, Physics I and Physics II, were 'owned' by the physics department, and their problems were the department’s problems." An article out today claims that more than half a million college students now use wireless devices to register class attendance and take quizzes. It goes on to say that although the technology is relatively new, preliminary studies at Harvard and Ohio State, among other institutions, suggest that engaging students in class through a device as familiar to them as a cellphone — there are even applications that convert iPads and BlackBerrys into class-ready clickers — increases their understanding of material that may otherwise be conveyed in traditional lectures. Registration is moving briskly for the upcoming Lunch+Learn on the promotion and tenure process at LU that will occur on Monday, November 22. Space is still available and you can register by contacting the Center for Teaching and Learning Enhancement.