If teaching is the effective communication of knowledge, the teacher first must be knowledgeable about the subject being taught. Communicating that knowledge to students is just as important. One standard teaching method is the lecture. A lecture is prepared before class by the teacher and should include not only the facts to be learned by the…

Describes a number of informal "turn-to-your-neighbor" approaches that create an active learning environment in college lecture settings. These include: launching class in discussion, breaking up the lecture for comprehension checks, closing class with small-group conversation, and debriefing exams. (DB)

Authors discuss ways to present a challenging classroom or shop format. Suggestions include quiz games, peer tutors, and goal-setting guides. Also includes tips from professional actors and a proven approach for using everyday adult mathematics skills to prepare students for using decimals and fractions. (CT)

Seven reasons for reading pedagogical materials to improve instruction are outlined, advice on how the reading can be used most effectively is given, and appropriate readings are recommended. (MSE)

Presented are studies which confirm the idea that factors related to the format, the order of items presented, and the presentation style can affect the impact of information and student recall. Discussed are dynamic presentations, enumerated items, impact and timing, pairing of items, data summaries, and information load. (CW)

This article discusses various definitions of teaching, arguing that teaching takes many forms and is conducted at numerous levels. It outlines a continuum of nine forms, with the teacher as disseminator/transmitter, lecturer/dramatist, inducer/persuader, inquirer/catalyst, dialogist, facilitator/guide, witness/abiding presence, learner, or…

These two documents present (1) a user's guide to the Personal Teaching Improvement Guides Program developed at the University of California, Berkeley and (2) a sample guide. The program uses results of student evaluations (keyed to 24 teaching practices) and descriptions of successful teaching practices to individualize instructional improvement…

The six editions of the newsletter provide a forum for the sharing of research findings and instructional strategies by faculty of Western Michigan University. Topics addressed include: active learning; lecture variations; lecture techniques; grading student participation; leading discussions; overcoming silence; discussion challenges; course…

Designed to help teachers improve instruction, this handbook provides tips gathered from focus groups of teachers and students at New Jersey's Mercer County Community College, as well as from other teaching resources. The first part focuses on the contribution of faculty-student interaction to student success, listing 21 suggestions for building…

This book presents 16 teaching techniques organized in lessons to be used by teachers who work with adolescents or young adults. The lessons may be used by individuals or in groups to improve instructional skills. A study guide or meeting plan precedes each chapter and suggests objectives, anticipatory set, input and modeling, means to check…

This book presents a systematic approach to developing a new college course involving, first, global analysis; second, thought, planning, and methodical preparation; and, third, evaluation of results. Chapter 1 recommends that the teacher examine the conditions of the teaching situation including reasons for the course, resources available, and…

This volume offers strategies and suggestions for college instructors at all levels in the form of 49 teaching tools (organized into 12 sections) that cover both traditional tasks--writing a course syllabus, delivering an effective lecture--and newer, broader concerns such as responding to diversity and using technology. Each tool includes a brief…

Intended for instructors teaching a college course for the first time, this anthology contains short readings organized into four sections on: (1) introductory concerns, (2) course planning, (3) instructional methods, and (4) evaluation. Each section is preceded by a brief introduction. Included are the following articles: "It's a Myth: Nobody…

This introductory guide to college instruction is intended for graduate students who are or are to become teaching assistants (TAs). It proposes that TA effectiveness may be improved through self-reflection, information about teaching, and adjustments in teaching practices. The first three chapters are introductory. The first considers teaching…

This book is intended to help college faculty members, teaching assistants, and prospective instructors to develop their teaching skills and choose instructional strategies that match their personalities and result in improved student learning. The nine chapters cover the following topics: (1) determining teaching objectives (stresses specificity…