Looking for teaching inspiration this summer? Whether you’re rethinking assessments, exploring AI or finding new ways to support student well-being, there’s no shortage of ideas to dig into.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a summer reading and listening list featuring authors and thought leaders from across higher education. These educators are tackling some of the biggest challenges in higher ed today—from student engagement and mental health to innovation and inclusive teaching—and offering practical strategies you can bring into your classroom right away.
Grab a book, queue up a podcast and get inspired for the term ahead.
8 books any educator will love this summer
The Joyful Online Teacher: Finding Our Fizz in Asynchronous Classes (2026)
Online learning isn’t going anywhere—but burnout doesn’t have to come with it. In her newest book, Flower Darby explores how instructors can bring energy, connection and purpose back into asynchronous courses. Grounded in learning science and positive psychology, she shares practical ways to build community, boost motivation and rediscover joy in teaching online.
Want more teaching advice? Watch Flower Darby’s Higher Learnings session to discover how positive psychology can spark joy and resilience in any classroom.
SNAFU EDU: Teaching and Learning When Things Go Wrong in the Classroom (2025)
Even the best-planned courses can go sideways. In SNAFU EDU, Jessamyn Neuhaus reframes teaching “failures” as powerful opportunities for growth. With honesty and humor, she shares real classroom missteps—along with strategies for responding with transparency, adaptability and care. It’s a refreshing reminder that great teaching isn’t about perfection—it’s about what you do when things don’t go as planned.
Want more? Watch Jessamyn Neuhaus’s Higher Learnings session for practical ways to navigate teaching challenges and build stronger connections with students.
Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead) (2020)
What if grades are getting in the way of learning? Susan Blum’s influential work on ungrading challenges traditional assessment models and invites educators to rethink how they measure student success. Through research and real classroom examples, her book explores alternatives that prioritize feedback, reflection and intrinsic motivation.
The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance (2025)
What helps students truly thrive? According to Zach Mercurio, it starts with a simple but often overlooked need: feeling like they matter. In The Power of Mattering, Mercurio blends research in psychology and organizational behavior to show how being seen, heard and valued directly impacts motivation, well-being and performance. He introduces a practical framework—noticing, affirming and needing—that educators can use to build stronger connections and more engaged classrooms.
For instructors, the takeaway is clear: when students feel recognized for who they are and how they contribute, learning becomes more meaningful—and more lasting. Want more? Listen to Mercurio uncover more research-based practices to help students feel seen in our podcast episode.
Remembering and Forgetting in the Age of Technology: Teaching, Learning, and the Science of Memory in a Wired World (2022)
In a world where information is always at our fingertips, what does it actually mean to learn? In her book, Michelle Miller draws on cognitive psychology to unpack how memory works—and how digital tools are reshaping attention, retention and understanding. Her research-backed insights help educators design courses that align with how students truly learn, not just how we assume they do.
Want more? Watch Michelle Miller’s Higher Learnings session to explore how memory science can inform more effective, engaging teaching strategies.
Write Like You Teach: Taking Your Classroom Skills to a Bigger Audience (2025)
What if the same techniques that make you an effective teacher could also make you a more impactful writer? In his newest book, James Lang argues that they can. Drawing on years of experience in the classroom, he shows how core teaching practices—like sparking curiosity, structuring ideas and engaging attention—translate directly into compelling, accessible writing. The result is a practical guide for educators looking to share their ideas beyond the classroom and reach wider audiences with clarity and confidence.
Want more? In our podcast episode, James Lang discusses how to motivate students to complete their assigned readings without relying on guilt, threats or wishful thinking. Listen now!
The Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching (2024)
What does it really mean to be “present” in the classroom? In The Present Professor, Liz Norell argues that effective teaching starts with something deeper than pedagogy—it starts with the instructor. Drawing on research in learning science, mindfulness and inclusive teaching, she explores how an educator’s authenticity and self-awareness can shape more meaningful, connected learning experiences.
At a time when both students and instructors are navigating stress and uncertainty, Norell offers a practical roadmap for cutting through that noise—helping educators better understand their own internal barriers so they can show up more fully for their students. The result is a powerful case for why creating supportive, psychologically safe classrooms begins with doing the inner work ourselves.
Want more? Listen to Liz Norell explore how authenticity and presence can transform student engagement and build more inclusive learning environments—it’s all covered in our Higher Listenings podcast episode.
Mind Over Monsters: Supporting Youth Mental Health with Compassionate Challenge (2023)
With student mental health concerns on the rise, educators are often caught in a difficult debate: should we lead with compassion—or push students to build resilience through challenge? In Mind Over Monsters, Sarah Rose Cavanagh makes a compelling case that this is a false choice. Drawing on research across psychology, neuroscience and education, she introduces the concept of compassionate challenge: learning environments that are both supportive and growth-oriented.
Blending student voices with insights from experts working on the front lines of youth development, Cavanagh offers practical strategies for helping students face fears, build confidence and develop lasting well-being. The result is a hopeful, evidence-based roadmap for educators looking to support the whole student—without lowering expectations.
Want more? Listen to Sarah Rose Cavanagh’s podcast episode where she explores the science (and the magic) of cultivating happiness in the classroom.
5 higher ed podcasts to add to your queue
Looking for fresh ideas you can take on a walk, commute or coffee break? These podcasts from leading voices in higher education offer practical strategies, research-backed insights and candid conversations about teaching and learning today.
Higher Listenings (Top Hat)
Hosted by Top Hat, Higher Listenings brings you conversations with like-minded educators who are committed to making education more equitable, engaging and interactive. From AI in the classroom to student belonging and engagement, each episode offers actionable insights you can apply right away—straight from the experts shaping the future of higher ed.
Tune into Higher Listenings for four seasons’ worth of teaching tips from today’s leading instructors.
Teaching in Higher Ed (Bonni Stachowiak)
One of the most popular podcasts in the space, Teaching in Higher Ed explores effective teaching strategies through interviews with educators, authors and researchers. Host Bonni Stachowiak dives into topics like inclusive teaching, course design and educational technology—making complex ideas accessible and actionable.
Tune into Teaching in Higher Ed for practical tips and inspiring conversations that can elevate your teaching practice.
Intentional Teaching (Derek Bruff)
In Intentional Teaching, Derek Bruff explores how educators can design meaningful learning experiences in an evolving higher ed landscape. With a focus on pedagogy, AI and thoughtful course design, the podcast offers reflective, forward-looking conversations for instructors navigating change.
Tune into Intentional Teaching for insights on teaching with purpose in a digital-first world.
Tea for Teaching (John Kane and Rebecca Mushtare)
This long-running podcast offers approachable, research-informed discussions on teaching in higher education. From active learning to assessment strategies, Tea for Teaching provides practical ideas grounded in real classroom experiences—often with a side of thoughtful humor.
Tune into Tea for Teaching for down-to-earth strategies you can implement right away.
Future U Podcast (Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn)
Hosted by higher education experts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn, Future U Podcast dives into the biggest trends shaping colleges and universities today—from AI and institutional strategy to the changing value of degrees. Through conversations with leaders and policymakers, the show offers a forward-looking perspective on where higher ed is headed.
Tune into Future U to stay informed on the forces transforming higher education—and what they mean for your classroom.
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