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

Linda B. Nilson

John Wiley & Sons, Jul 18, 2016 - Education - 416 pages

The classic teaching toolbox, updated with new research and ideas

Teaching at Its Best is the bestselling, research-based toolbox for college instructors at any level, in any higher education setting. Packed with practical guidance, proven techniques, and expert perspectives, this book helps instructors improve student learning both face-to-face and online. This new fourth edition features five new chapters on building critical thinking into course design, creating a welcoming classroom environment, helping students learn how to learn, giving and receiving feedback, and teaching in multiple modes, along with the latest research and new questions to facilitate faculty discussion. Topics include new coverage of the flipped classroom, cutting-edge technologies, self-regulated learning, the mental processes involved in learning and memory, and more, in the accessible format and easy-to-understand style that has made this book a much-valued resource among college faculty.

Good instructors are always looking for ways to improve student learning. With college classrooms becoming increasingly varied by age, ability, and experience, the need for fresh ideas and techniques has never been greater. This book provides a wealth of research-backed practices that apply across the board.

• Teach students practical, real-world problem solving
• Interpret student ratings accurately
• Boost motivation and help students understand how they learn
• Explore alternative techniques, formats, activities, and exercises

Given the ever-growing body of research on student learning, faculty now have many more choices of effective teaching strategies than they used to have, along with many more ways to achieve excellence in the classroom. Teaching at Its Best is an invaluable toolbox for refreshing your approach, and providing the exceptional education your students deserve.

Contents

• PREPARATION: 3
• Why outcomesCentered Course Design?: 17
• 1: 31
• Giving students Practice in Critical: 37
• Critical thinking in everyday Life: 43
• the Learning Management system: 49
• Laptops in Class: 55
• The Complete Syllabus: 61
• the Graphic syllabus: 67
• obtaining Permission or a License: 77
• 8: 93
• 45: 102
• no Magic Bullets: 103
• Responding Wisely to Incivility: 112
• Lecturing for Student Learning: 141
• Leading Effective Discussions: 155
• Coordinating Experiential Learning: 167
• Managing Productive Groups: 179
• InquiryGuided Learning: 193
• The Case Method: 199
• ProblemBased Learning: 205
• Problem Solving in the STEM Fields: 211
• Helping Students Learn: 225
• sources for teaching Your students: 235
• Improving Student Performance: 271
• Constructing Student Assessments: 289
• objective test Items at Your Institution: 333
• 61: 347
• 141: 349
• 155: 378
• Teaching in Multiple Modes: 383

About the author

LINDA B. NILSON is the founding director of Clemson University's Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation. Her career as a full-time faculty development director spans over 25 years. Along with four editions of Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors, she has authored three other books: The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map: Communicating Your Course (Jossey-Bass, 2007); Creating Self-Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Students' Self-Awareness and Learning Skills (Stylus, 2013); and Specifications Grading: Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students, and Saving Faculty Time (Stylus, 2015).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors; Jossey-Bass higher and adult education series
• Author: Linda B. Nilson
• Edition: 4, reprint
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2016
• ISBN: 1119096324, 9781119096320
• Length: 416 pages
• Subjects: Education / General; Education / Learning Styles; Education / Schools / Levels / Higher; Education / Teaching / General