Teaching Tips Page Banner

 

THE FIRST DAY
101 Things the First Three Weeks Ways to create the best learning environment.
40 Successes Inviting and disinviting comments, etc.
The First Day of Class Nine tasks for getting a class off on the right foot.
Icebreakers Examples of getting acquainted techniques.
Learn the Students' Names How to learn names and faces quickly.
Magically "Learn" Names in Minutes A tongue-in-cheek idea for amazing your students
The Most Important Day Thorough discussion, checklist, references
The Name Game Make learning names a game.
Tom's Essential Survival Tips A reality check for the first day of class.

PREPARING A COURSE SYLLABUS
Developing a Syllabus The purposes and content of a syllabus.
Syllabus Example -- Classroom A sample syllabus for an occupational course.
Syllabus Example -- Internet Sample syllabus for an occupational course on the Internet.
Syllabus Suggested Form An outline of a syllabus that covers all bases.
Writing Performance Objectives What they are and how to write them.
Writing a Syllabus More about what should be included.

PREPARING A LESSON PLAN
Lesson Planning Procedures Lesson planning for effective teaching.
Sample Lesson Plan Form (A) A simple fill-in-the-blank form.
Sample Lesson Plan Form (B) Another form.

TEACHING TECHNIQUES
7 Principles of Good Practice Essentials of effective teaching and learning.
Common Teaching Methods Strengths and limitations of 14 teaching methods.
Common Visual Aids Advantages and disadvantages of four types.
Encouraging Student Retention 63 ideas for dealing with retention/attrition.
Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness Practical tips on improving your teaching.
Evaluate Your Own Teaching Reasons, guidelines, and resources.
Good Teaching Personal qualities that make for good teaching.
Good Teaching: The Top Ten... Award-winning article about good teaching.
Grading Practices Strategies, minimizing complaints, etc.
Selecting a Delivery Strategy Choosing lecture, demonstration, or discussion.

COURSE DESIGN
Fink's Five Principles Five concise principles of good course design.
Preparing or Revising a Course Strategies, recommendations, and more.

COMMUNICATION
Culturally Effective Communication Ethnocentrism, sterotyping, blindness, etc.
Diversity and Complexity ... "Considerations of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender"
Do's and Don'ts of Inclusive Language Avoid creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes.
Improving Nonverbal Communication It's how as much as what you say.
CRITICAL THINKING
Center for Critical Thinking A range of articles on critical thinking.
The Elements of Critical Thinking Two essential dimensions of critical thinking.

USING QUESTIONS EFFECTIVELY IN TEACHING
Answering and Asking Questions Types and examples for different responses.
Effective Techniques of Questioning Plan key questions to teach around.
Types of Questions Types based on Bloom's taxonomy.

INSTRUCTIONAL ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES
Classroom Assessment Techniques Techniques for better teaching and learning.
Classroom Assessment Examples Five examples from the previous article.
Quizzes, Tests, and Exams Types, Bloom bases, guidelines, construction.

TEACHING ORGANIZATION
STW Series: Organize Yourself Saving time and finding time.
The Teacher as an Organizer The why and how of organization for teaching.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Erikson's Developmental Stages Developmental stages infant through older adult.
Knowles: The Adult Learner Applies Piaget and Erikson to adult learners.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Basic human needs and their educational import.
Piaget's Cognitive Stages From "sensorimotor" to abstract reasoning.
Returning Adults Understanding adults returning to school.

HOW PEOPLE LEARN
30 Things About Teaching Adults 30 Cornerstone Things to Know.
Active Learning A model for better engaging students.
How Students Learn/How We Teach Studies can teach us how to teach.
The Keirsey Tests Online temperament and character questionnaires.
Using the Keirsey Test Data Interpreting and applying data from the Keirsey tests.
Learning Assumptions Fundamental assumptions to make about learning.
Learning Domains Understanding cognitive and psychomotor domains.
Principles of Adult Learners Understanding the adult learner.
Principles of Adult Learning What to know about teaching adults.
The Process of Education General educational objectives and processes.
The VARK Inventory "How Do I Learn Best?"

PAYING ATTENTION TO CORE ACADEMIC AND WORKPLACE SKILLS
The Contemporary Work Environ Traditional classroom vs. today's work environment.
Core Abilities Seven core abilities in the national limelight.
SCANS Skills Popular SCANS Report: workplace skills.
Workplace Habits Rating Scale Model ABRP scale adaptable to other disciplines.
Workplace Skills Assessments Another model form adaptable to various disciplines.

MOTIVATING STUDENTS
General Principles of Motivation More than instructor excitement or prodding.
Motivating Students A wealth of good ideas.
Motivating Students - 8 Simple Rules Keep students focused and motivated.
Motivating the Unmotivated This just might change your thinking.
Empowering Students Through Encouragement Encouraging college students

DEALING WITH DIFFICULT BEHAVIORS
Difficult Behaviors in the Classroom Behaviors and Possible Responses
Campus Student Conduct Policies

DEALING WITH STRESS
101 Ways to Cope With Stress 101 simple, easy-to-use ideas.
Life Stresses Causes, values, and management.
Life Stress Scale 24 items to help you figure your stress level.
Time to Reenergize?

FEEL GOOD ABOUT TEACHING
Love and the Cabby One person's goodwill can make a difference.
A True Teacher Accepts All .. The characteristics of a real teacher.