We all like to have the opportunity to teach new courses. How do you go about doing that? In your first year as an assistant professor at a small liberal arts college you will be asked to teach at least three new courses. Where do you start? These tips focus on teaching biology courses, but they work just as well for any subject matter.
Author Archives: administrator
Ready or Not! Here it comes….
The new academic year is creeping up. Time to get ready! I usually begin preparing by thinking a bit about the BIG PICTURE of my courses for the term. Am I teaching first- year biology students? Advanced life sciences majors interested in a neuroscience or neurobiology course? A lab course?
Spend a little time thinking about the “level” of your class.
Life Skills for New College Students- Part II
Here are some other important skills for a successful college student. From what I’ve noticed, many students have not yet mastered these important skills. How do we go about teaching this sort of stuff? Should the freshman advisors provide some how-to? As you advise your students at the beginning of the fall term, please consider the following:
° Crafting emails to faculty or persons of authority.
Life Skills for Introductory Biology- Part 1
In a previous post, I discussed the two phenotypes of the introductory biology student. One, the ultra-achiever in high school, is accustomed to following detailed rubrics for coursework, juggling multiple after school obligations like music lessons, an organized sport team, possibly a volunteer or paid job and perhaps so many different classes that lunch and homework were crammed into small time fragments during the day or late at night. These high school super stars follow the rubrics and get A’s.
Life Skills for Introductory Biology- Part 1
In a previous post, I discussed the two phenotypes of the introductory biology student. One, the ultra-achiever in high school, is accustomed to following detailed rubrics for coursework, juggling multiple after school obligations like music lessons, an organized sport team, possibly a volunteer or paid job and perhaps so many different classes that lunch and homework were crammed into small time fragments during the day or late at night. These high school super stars follow the rubrics and get A’s.