Parker Palmer's Triad: Palmer
is a noted voice in higher education, and he argues that there are
three elements in teaching: the student, the subject, and the
teacher. His article, The
Heart of a Teacher, is a thought-provoking introduction to the
personal commitment involved in teaching.
Different Foci for Teaching: There are various
approaches to teaching, depending upon what the teacher sees as
the most important element in the process, for example, it can be
content-centered, student-centered, or instructor-centered.
Teacher as Guide: This is a
relatively new view of teaching and is replacing the idea of the
teacher as a source of information. Now it is more common to guide
student learning, point out the needed resources, lead discussions,
and manage group work. In other words, we are trying to help
students learn how
to learn.
Keys to Success in Teaching
It is important to be:
- Prepared
- Organized
- Enthusiastic
- Flexible
- Patient
- A good manager
You can learn from:
- Your students
- Your reading
- Your reflections
- Your colleagues
- Your mistakes
Guides to Teaching
Here are several good lists to guide
your teaching:
Here are three more helpful
articles:
Planning the Course
Where are you now?
- Have you selected a book/readings?
- Have you a plan for the semester?
- Have you written out a course requirement sheet?
- Have you considered how you want to conduct your classes?
- Have you thought about how you are going to determine the final
grade?
Writing clear course objectives is crucial
to planning your course. Ask yourself these questions:
- In what ways will students be different when they finish the
course?
- What do you consider your most important goals in teaching this
course?
- What should students be able to do with the knowledge and
skills gained in this course?
Liz Basnet provides a wonderful, concise
guide to
Writing Learning-Centered Objectives. Another
excellent article is
Greater Expections to Improve Student Learning.
Go to
Developing the Syllabus.