57 students read their papers aloud in class, or choosing essay questions that relatemore closely to classroomconversations. At the same time, the division is developing ideas for using Chat GPT to enhance teaching, and to encourage more meaningful thought and writing, too. Taking Stock for Better Scores Gone are the days when a year’s worth of learning could be summed in a single score: Now, all Bar-Ilan courses must include a mid-term as well as a final, so that “lecturers and students alike can assess the level of learning along the way, and make target areas that need work,” Reich explains. To help faculty make adjustments in line with the new emphasis on assessment, the division has developed a standard digital template for all syllabi, replete with required fields for interim quizzes and exams. Picking up the Pedagogical Pace “We found that when courses lasted a full year, students could disappear in the middle, either figuratively or literally,” Reich says. “By moving to a semester-long format, we ensure that the pace of learning is more intensive, faculty energy remains high, and students stay more engaged from the first class to the last.” Another benefit: Faculty gain more data on what works and what doesn’t in their courses, and have more incentive to focus their efforts on the material that matters the most. OpeningNewDoors toaBar-IlanDegree In the coming years, the division plans to offer an alternative admissions process: Candidates who successfully complete three Bar-Ilan MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) offered by the Faculty of Jewish Studies or the Faculty of the Humanities, and then go on to receive an average of at least 85 on the courses’ in-person exams, can gain automatic entry to one of these faculties’ departments. As an added bonus, students can apply these course credits to their degrees—and the costs of the courses to their tuition. Connecting the Classroom and the (Real) World Outside To strengthen the academia-employment spectrum and ensure that graduates are equipped for themodernworkplace, Israel’s Council of Higher Education, together with the Aluma Association and the Edmond De Rothschild Foundation, awarded NIS 1.5 million on a yearly basis to Bar-Ilan for activities that help bridge the classroom to a range of future careers. Along with developing new courses that incorporate practical experience, training, and soft skills, the Division for Teaching and Learning will work to connect existing courses across all disciplines to growing needs and real positions in Israeli industry. Vice Rector Prof. Arie Reich with a light board
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