Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors

Teaching at Its Best This third edition of the best-selling handbook offers faculty at all levels an essential toolbox of hundreds of practical teaching techniques, formats, classroom activities, and exercises, all of which can be implemented immediately. This thoroughly revised edition includes the newest portrait of the Millennial student; current research from cognitive psychology; a focus on outcomes maps; the latest legal options on copyright issues; and how to best use new technology including wikis, blogs, podcasts, vodcasts, and clickers. Entirely new chapters include subjects such as matching teaching methods with learning outcomes, inquiry-guided learning, and using visuals to teach, and new sections address Felder and Silverman's Index of Learning Styles, SCALE-UP classrooms, multiple true-false test items, and much more. Praise for the Third Edition of Teaching at Its BestEveryone—veterans as well as novices—will profit from reading Teaching at Its Best, for it provides both theory and practical suggestions for handling all of the problems one encounters in teaching classes varying in size, ability, and motivation."—Wilbert McKeachie, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, and coauthor, McKeachie's Teaching TipsThis new edition of Dr. Nilson's book, with its completely updated material and several new topics, is an even more powerful collection of ideas and tools than the last. What a great resource, especially for beginning teachers but also for us veterans!"—L. Dee Fink, author, Creating Significant Learning ExperiencesThis third edition of Teaching at Its Best is successful at weaving the latest research on teaching and learning into what was already a thorough exploration of each topic. New information on how we learn, how students develop, and innovations in instructional strategies complement the solid foundation established in the first two editions."—Marilla D. Svinicki, Department of Psychology, The University of Texas, Austin, and coauthor, McKeachie's Teaching Tips

Table of Contents:
The Author xv Preface xvii Part One LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR STUDENT LEARNING 1 1 Understanding Your Students and How They Learn 3 2 Outcomes-Centered Course Design 17 3 The Complete Syllabus 33 4 Your First Day of Class 43 5 Motivating Your Students 51 Part Two MANAGING YOUR COURSES 61 6 Copyright Guidelines for Instructors 63 7 Preventing and Responding to Classroom Incivility 71 8 Preserving Academic Integrity 83 9 Making the Most of Office Hours 89 10 Course Coordination Between Faculty and Teaching Assistants 95 Part Three CHOOSING AND USING THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING 101 11 Matching Teaching Methods with Learning Outcomes 103 12 Making the Lecture a Learning Experience 113 13 Leading Effective Discussions 127 14 Questioning Techniques for Discussion and Assessment 137 15 Experiential Learning Activities 145 16 Learning in Groups 155 17 Writing-to-Learn Activities and Assignments 167 Part Four MORE TOOLS: TEACHING REAL-WORLD PROBLEM SOLVING 173 18 Inquiry-Guided Learning 175 19 The Case Method 181 20 Problem-Based Learning 187 21 Quantitative Reasoning and Problem Solving 193 22 Problem Solving in the Sciences 199 Part Five MAKING LEARNING EASIER 209 23 Getting Students to Do the Readings 211 24 Teaching Your Students to Think and Write in Your Discipline 223 25 Accommodating Different Learning Styles 229 26 Using Visuals to Teach 239 27 Using Instructional Technology Wisely 253 Part Six ASSESSING LEARNING OUTCOMES 271 28 Assessing Student Learning in Progress 273 29 Constructing Summative Assessments 281 30 Preparing Students for Tests 295 31 Grading Summative Assessments 301 32 Evaluating and Documenting Teaching Effectiveness 315 Appendix: Instructional Support and Resources at Your Institution 329 References 335 Index 367

About the Author :
The Author Linda B. Nilson is the founding director of the Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation at Clemson University. She is the author of The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map: Communicating Your Course from Jossey-Bass. The Author Linda B. Nilson is the founding director of the Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation at Clemson University. She is the author of The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map: Communicating Your Course from Jossey-Bass.