Become a Better Teacher
Consider things from the student's point of view
A helpful first step in becoming a better teacher is to consider how the instructional experience you create looks from your students' point of view.
How engaging, beneficial, or useful is the experience for students? You may want to ask some informally, or consider administering a survey to get their opinions. The Centre for Enhanced Teaching & Learning can help with survey design.
Show you care
Don't despair -- remember the most important thing in instruction is for students to sense that you care about their success. If so, they are willing to overlook what some may consider instructional technique failings.
Here are some ideas on gathering feedback from students about the quality of their learning experience from their point of view:
These articles describe what your students are experiencing emotionally and intellectually, to help focus instructional activities to fit:
Students learn in a variety of ways, some of which may be quite different from your own style of learning and teaching.
Appreciating different learning styles can help you effectively reach all students by using instructional techniques that fit all.
Your teaching philosophy
Going through the exercise of writing your instructional values and approaches often helps instructors rethink and sharpen their teaching methods. Read about it in the Teaching Philosophy Statement.
Diploma in University Teaching (DUT)
Consider CETL's DUT course on effective teaching techniques.
