TEACHING PRINCIPLES

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TEACHING PRINCIPLES TECHNIQUES

• Charlie Stewart
• Department of Communication

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• Teaching, even when lecturing, can be
  interesting, rewarding, and fun for you and your
  students . . .
• or NOT!

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• 1. First, you must know and follow the
  basics.
• Be knowledgeable and up-to-date in subject
  matter.
• You cant fake it!
• Be thoroughly prepared and organized.
• You cant wing it!
• Be enthusiastic about what you are teaching.
• You cant generate interest without a generator!
• Be able to laugh.
• If you cant laugh, your class will be a bore!

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• Be respectful.
• Respect is earned, not a divine right!
• Be a caring instructor.
• If you dont care, your students wont care!
• Be sure to show relevance of your subject matter.
• If your class is irrelevant, youre irrelevant!
• Be ready for surprises.
• What can go wrong will go wrong at the worst
  times!

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• 2. Second, you must present your lecture
  effectively by
• being a good presenter.
• developing carefully structured and organized
  lectures.
• not merely repeating what students can read in
  textbooks and manuals.
• illustrating important points.
• Examples
• Stories
• Demonstrations.
• Employing technology to assist but not overwhelm
  the process.

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• 3. Third, you must involve students actively by
• employing questions.
• Phrase clearly, precisely, and concretely.
• Wait long enough but no too long.
• Call on people to encourage interaction and
  preparation.
• Repeat student answers for all to hear.
• Be supportive of student comments and insights.

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• Using note taking as part of the LEARNING
  process.
• Dont look at note taking as a waste of time.
• Be sure print is easily readable!!!
• Introduce one item at a time.
• Give students time to take notes!
• Elaborate, explain, or illustrate after students
  have notes recorded.

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• using ungraded exercises.
• administering graded exercises.
• popping application quizzes.

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Conclusions

• Know the basics of effective teaching and
  lecturing.
• Strive to present what you know and your
  students need to know by
• presenting materials effectively.
• explaining ideas and concepts clearly.
• illustrating important points
• employing available technology
• involving students.