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II. TEACHING ASSIGNMENT


D. TIPS FOR CLASSROOM SESSIONS



| CTL Materials |


A few general administrative guidelines regarding the classroom session might be helpful.

  • Begin and end each class on time.
  • Begin each class with a prayer or devotional thought.
  • Return tests and assignments promptly.
  • Report excessive absences (De-enrollment Notice on Forms Central).
  • Observe the final examination schedule on the Web. All faculty are required to abide by the established examination times.
  • Follow the course syllabus. This is your contract with the student. Changes should never be made in ways that disadvantage any students.

Here are some guidelines for establishing a positive relationship with students conducive to learning.

  • Learn student names!! Use a seating chart, or make flash cards from the picture class list -- whatever will help you learn names.
  • Respect the identity of students.
    • Avoid jokes about race, gender, ethnicity
    • Avoid "typing" students
    • Allow students to be learners, not knowers
  • Respect the rights of students.
    • Do not humiliate a student, even if that student is behaving badly. Find other ways to assert control.
    • Do not allow other students to embarrass or humiliate a fellow student.
    • Be sympathetic to student problems and help the student meet the same requirements others must meet.
  • Take full charge of the class session.
  • Encourage and praise whenever you can.
    • Recognize and praise the small steps towards larger goals
    • Praise sincere efforts
    • Give nonverbal encouragement often

Below are some guidelines for your teaching .

  • T.E.S.T. your students.
    • T ell them what you want them to know
    • E xplain why it is important and how it works
    • S how them -- and maybe even let them try
    • T ell them again what you have just done
  • Vary activities, voice tone, volume, style to help students remain focused.
  • When you are planning a lesson, think like someone who is learning the subject, not like someone who already knows it.
  • Present material in ways that can engage visual learners, aural learners.
  • Engage multiple levels of student intelligence. Even if you are primarily lecturing about facts, remember to throw in some questions that push students to think in more analytical, evaluative or interpretive fashion.

CTL Materials


The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) exists to support faculty efforts to continually improve their teaching and to maximize student learning. The Center offers a variety of supports online and the Center Director (Hadley Wood; x2295; hwood@pointloma.edu ) is always available for a personal consultation or to connect you to whatever resource you feel you need.


In addition, the CTL runs several ongoing programs (Teachers Noticing Teachers, Tech Time, Ways and Means, Faculty Enrichment Seminar, and Reading Groups) designed to create spaces where faculty can talk about the issues of teaching and learning with other professors with a variety of experience. Adjuncts are welcome to participate in any of these programs. Although Teachers Noticing Teachers is only open to new members at the beginning of each semester, the other programs can be joined at any point.

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