Teaching in Higher Education
1
In person
Fridays, 2 - 2:50pm
Wachman 617
Wachman 628
Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30 - 2:30 or by appointment
All course materials will be provided through Canvas. Most of the readings will be recent and current articles and chapters on research and theory, and suggestions for practice informed by these. Readings will also come from the following books:
- Lovett, Marsha C., et al. How learning works: Eight research-based principles for smart teaching. John Wiley & Sons, 2023.
- Bain, Ken. What the best college teachers do. Harvard University Press, 2004.
- Felder, R., Brent, R., (2016). Teaching and Learning STEM, Jossey-Bass.
- MAA’s Instructional Practice Guide
- Weekly responses to readings: 25%. You will have weekly readings and learning activities that will advance your knowledge and prepare you for class.
- Attendance and participation in class activities: 25%. Learning from your peers and from the discussions held during class are essential.
- Microteaching: 25%. This assignment is an opportunity to synthesize what you have learned in class and apply this knowledge to teaching a portion of a lesson with your peers acting as your students.
- Draft of teaching philosophy: 25%. You will write a first draft of this essential component of most academic employment portfolios.
None
Students will gain enough knowledge and practice to feel comfortable planning and executing lessons that:
- leverage knowledge of how students think and learn to improve outcomes;
- create a supportive, inclusive classroom environment; and
- incorporate active learning techniques.
This 1-credit course is also the first step in earning Temple University’s Teaching in Higher Education certificate.
- Nuts and bolts of teaching at Temple
- Overview of research on how people learn
- Creating an inclusive classroom environment
- Active learning techniques
There are no exams, but microteaching sessions will be conducted by students on April 10th and 17th.
Two absences, excused or unexcused, will have no impact on the grade. Each further absence will reduce the grade by 10%, unless there are extenuating circumstances that are communicated to the instructor.
To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you are able to do so, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.
It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse.
Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here (opens in new tab/window).
Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.
During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).
The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) is not permitted in this class unless specifically announced for a particular assignment; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University's Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in a grade of zero on the assignment; a second offense will be reported to the Student Conduct Board.
The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).
The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window):
The Math Consulting Center
Student Success Center
University Libraries
Undergraduate Research Support
Career Center
Tuttleman Counseling Services
Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.