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.