Flower Darby, assistant dean of online and innovative pedagogies at Northern Arizona University

Flower Darby

Featured Resources

Welcome sign for belonging at university

How to foster belonging to advance equitable learning in your classes

We must extend belonging to help students feel they’re cut out for college, lower barriers such as impostor syndrome and ultimately support learning, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

University of Missouri

Getting an academic teaching buddy can help you work out lots of classroom issues rather than struggling alone

Get yourself a teaching buddy to help you thrive

Rather than struggle through classroom-based problems alone, we should recruit meaningful support by seeking out a colleague to discuss our teaching, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

University of Missouri

Immediacy cues such as eye contact can be critical tools for professors and lecturers when connecting to higher education students

Immediacy cues are a great starting point for fostering inclusive classes

Both verbal and non-verbal cues, such as pronouncing names correctly, smiling and making eye contact signal to students that they are welcome, respected and valued

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Capturing students’ attention in the classroom: Does listening equal learning?

Four teaching academics discuss effective approaches to keeping students focused and engaged inside and outside the classroom

Flower Darby, Steven Mintz, Kara Monroe, Constanza Pacher

Northern Arizona University, University of Texas at Austin, Ivy Tech Community College, MacEwan University

Students want feel heard, valued, seen and represented

It’s our duty to teach more inclusively − online, in person or hybrid

Students want to be seen, heard and valued, and there are many ways to include them while fostering equitable learning outcomes, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

Tips on how to engage students when your class is split between those studying in-person and those learning via zoom

How to engage students when some are in the room and some are on Zoom

Flower Darby offers practical tips for keeping all students engaged when teaching a class in which some students are with you in person and others are learning remotely via a teleconferencing platform

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

We must admit that things are and have been bad during the pandemic and realise that people are at different stages of comfort with others

My first post-Covid conference showed me we need to prep for the campus return

At this conference, faculty were like the walking wounded, but we can and should learn from it because our students deserve our best selves, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

Advice on what online teaching strategies developing during the pandemic should be kept long term

Never waste a good crisis: what to keep from pandemic teaching strategies

Flower Darby talks through the digital teaching skills and tools that instructors should hold on to, even after returning to campus, to enhance student learning and success

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

Creating human connection online

How to create human connection when teaching online

Instructors teaching online must take steps to connect with their students via digital channels and compensate for the loss of natural face-to-face cues and communication. Flower Darby explains how

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

Engaging students in readings and microlectures

Engaging students in readings and microlectures

Three online teaching experts share advice for motivating students to read and engage with microlectures online, then answer questions on key challenges during this ACUE webinar

Ludwika Goodson, Catherine Haras, Flower Darby

LG Education Consulting , Cal State LA, Northern Arizona University

How to plan and facilitate student discussions via online classes

Planning and facilitating quality discussions

Three online teaching experts share advice on how to foster quality discussions among students online to aid learning during this ACUE webinar

Flower Darby, Viji Sathy, Ludwika Goodson

Northern Arizona University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , LG Education Consulting

Managing your online presence when teaching remotely

Managing your online presence

Three remote teaching experts share advice on building an authentic and engaging instructor presence online to support effective communication with students during this ACUE webinar

Flower Darby, Kevin Gannon, April Mondy

Northern Arizona University, Grand View University, Delta State University

Guidance on creating a welcoming online learning environment for students

Welcoming students to your online environment

Three online teaching experts share advice on creating a welcoming virtual learning environment for students then answer questions about transitioning to remote courses during this ACUE webinar  

Flower Darby, Kevin Gannon, Michael Wesch

Northern Arizona University, Grand View University, Kansas State University, ACUE