Psychometrics is the field of designing tests and assessments to measure certain psychological concepts. It is chiefly concerned with two fundamental properties: reliability and validity. These properties are often influenced by confounding variables: other things that can influence performance but are not what you are trying to measure. Here, I…

We set out to identify the benefits and drawbacks of using more than one instructor to teach single section science courses at a large research university. Nine courses were investigated involving widely differing subjects and levels. Teaching models included: sequential teaching with two to six instructors each covering only their own modules,…

This article discusses a three-step method that was used in a college calculus course. The three-step method was developed to help students understand the course material and transition to be more independent learners. In addition, the method helped students to transfer concepts from short-term to long-term memory while lowering cognitive load.…

In this study, we investigated the use of humor in college classrooms. We examined how students perceived professors' uses of various types of humor during class and the types of humor that students and faculty recommend for use in class. We also correlated the way professors incorporated humor into their class lectures with their perceived…

The last class of the semester is like a goodbye. It can be cold and perfunctory or warm and heartfelt. For many years, I erred on the side of "cold and perfunctory." No more. Now my last classes are a time of celebration and ritual as I invite students to focus on qualities such as acceptance and gratitude.

Introduces four articles that identify different perspectives on the teaching styles of college faculty. The articles are designed to help college faculty identify attitudes, values, and principles that guide excellent teachers, and to examine the strengths and weaknesses of their own teaching styles. (MDM)

Guidelines for collaborative, interdisciplinary teaching at the college level are presented, including: restricting the team to two members, in general; agreeing on a trial period; selecting a coteacher with a healthy psyche; selecting course content fertile for interdisciplinary learning; discussing teaching philosophy and methods; reviewing…

This article profiles the teaching careers of history professor Giovanni Costigan of the University of Washington and English professor Tommy Howells of Whitman College in Walla Walla (Washington). It maintains that both men were accomplished lecturers who set the standard for their respective campuses and corners of Washington State. (MDM)

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…

This article describes five major stylistic qualities that college teachers possess and offers suggestions for when and how to employ them. It also discusses the development of the Teaching Style Inventory, which was administered to 381 faculty members to gauge the distribution of teaching styles across gender, academic rank, course level, and…