Well, after over a year, I received a call today to teach in the Fall at CSUS. Thanks to all for your help. It seems that things are really coming together. I do have a few questions. I am teaching an introduction class (mostly underclass-persons). What recommendations would you give? What teaching techniques are best? Essay tests, multiple choice tests, strraight from the book, etc. Any advice is most appreciated. (I have taught in the past, but only in the business area, where people are getting paid to be there).
I happen to like a lot of the information created by Stephen Brookfield on teaching style and adult learning. I also like many of the methods proposed by Malcolm Knowles regarding facilitation rather than teaching. I teach graduate programs as an adjunct at 3 universities, my experience has been best when I find ways to involve the students rather than lecture. Additionally, I like lots of writing assignments that require critical thinking over regular exams.
Congrats kristy7!!! Lecture is good if you use good visual illustrations and outlines for your points. Many appreciate if you have copies of your outline to pass out. Group projects and inclass exercises are effective as well. I just recently attended a week long Haz-mat class in Houston where info was given at 100mph, yet when we broke into groups after the lecture and did our worksheet together, we really picked it up rather well. One reason is it fosters discussion. Where one may know one thing and another something else, together they share that knowledge in the group and everyone ends up roughly at the same level. Like said earlier it's good to mix it up between exams and research assignments. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. All said, the more you can keep things lively, mix it up(teaching styles) and keep the class involved the better, generally. People learn differently so incorporate as many styles as you can while maintaining you own sanity! Kevin
Congratulations. The quiet display of a (disabled) firearm useta work for me to get the munchkins' attention.
Re: Re: Persistence is the key Intro to Marketing. I just picked up the book. It has about 6 additional books for the teaching edition.... what a great addition!
assessment "I like lots of writing assignments that require critical thinking over regular exams. " (obecve) Yes the use of essays in assessment tests the higher domains of learning. However, unless you use really good questions they tend to focus only upon small sections of the sylabus. A way around tis is to give an essay (1500 - 2000 words) after every unit within the course. Multiple choice unless they are very well constructed tend only to focus upon knowledge. Another, good way to go is short answer questions. you can get more material in, and they can be constructed to require some analysis on behalf of the student. However, in my view nothing beats a good essay. At the University of Leicester my archaeology degree exams were always four essays in three hours (it made a man of me.) Roy Maybery
