Patrick N. Allitt – Art of Teaching – Best Practices from a Master Educator

Teaching is more than a job. It is one of the greatest responsibilities in civilized society. The mysteries of the world are laid bare by teachers. Our minds are trained to explore, to question, to investigate. They make sure that knowledge is passed on to future generations. Our lives are shaped by them both inside and outside of the classroom.

Teaching is not easy. It is an art form that requires craft, sensitivity, creativity, and intelligence. It is important to be as effective and successful a teacher as possible, both for the education of your students and for your own professional and personal growth.

The best practices of a master teacher. One of the most innovative and dynamic Great Courses we have ever produced is designed to help you achieve new levels of success as a teacher. The 24 lectures will help you develop and enhance your teaching style, provide you with valuable methods, tools, and advice for handling all manner of teaching scenarios, and open your eyes to how other teachers think about and approach this life-changing profession.

The course’s insights are useful to a wide variety of teachers and people in other leadership positions.

• Current teachers at the college and high-school levels
• Aspiring teachers and teachers in training
• Corporate managers and trainers
• Public speakers

Also, in addition. The art of teaching. Anyone who is curious about how academic education works in the 21st century has value. The concepts and principles shown in the examples used in this course are not from the world of academia.

• lecturing,
• presenting,
• leading discussion groups,
• using technologies, and
• using creativity and innovation

It can be used in almost every situation in which you have to teach and lead.

LEARN HOW TO TEACH FROM THE BEST OF THE BEST

The art of teaching. One of The Great Courses most popular professors is Professor Patrick N. Allitt. A distinguished teacher with more than 30 years of classroom experience and 5 years as Director of the Center for Teaching and Curriculum, he is the perfect instructor with whom to explore ways to become a great.

He enhances his lectures with candid and illuminating interviews with an all-star group of veteran Great Courses professors. They apply their tools and techniques in lecture halls, seminar classes, and even one-on-one student coaching when you hear what they have to say about their roles as teachers.

The teachers are.

• John Hale , Director of Liberal Studies at the University of Louisville
• Jeanette Norden , Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
• Stephen Nowicki , Dean and Provost of Undergraduate Education and Professor of Biology at Duke University
• Scott E. Page , Collegiate Professor of Political Science, Complex Systems, and Economics at the University of Michigan
• Steve Pollock , Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder
• Michael Roberto , Trustee Professor of Management at Bryant University

You will learn how to teach from the best of the best because of these professors’ wealth of teaching awards and accolades, their combined decades of experience teaching in classrooms of all sizes, and their deep and abiding passion for the importance of their profession.

EXPLORE THE TOOLKIT FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING

The lessons you learn on how to enhance and improve your own teaching are at the center of this new and unique course. In each lecture. The art of teaching. You will find a veritable toolkit of tips, techniques, exercises, advice, and wisdom rarely assembled in a single, affordable package.

Here is a small sample of what you will learn in these 24 lectures.

• How to handle the first day: The first day of your class is critical, because it gives your students an idea of what their learning experience will be like. Make sure that, during your first class, you explain your subject and establish your credentials for teaching it, demonstrate why the subject matters, set your expectations, learn your students’ names, and immediately engage your students.
• How to give a dynamic lecture: Excellent lectures are both informative and interesting. Some tips to make your lectures more dynamic and memorable: Start your lecture with something stimulating or controversial; vary your vocal volume, tone, and expression to maintain attention; occasionally ask rhetorical questions; and avoid overfilling your lecture with content.
• How to effectively use technologies: When dealing with aids like PowerPoint, remember that the more teaching technology you use, the more time you’re likely to devote to it instead of to your students. Keep your PowerPoint presentations bold and simple, and don’t forget the usefulness of “traditional” technologies like blackboards. When using a teaching aid, always ask yourself: What does this method of teaching add? How will it help my students to learn?
• How to create and administer exams: Exams should fully test your students’ knowledge and thinking ability. Before writing an exam, ask yourself what you want the students to take from your course. Decide whether to administer a multiple-choice test, a take-home exam, or an oral exam; each has its benefits and drawbacks. Similarly, decide beforehand whether you’re going to grade on a curve or according to an absolute standard, and what your policy will be for handling potential grade disputes.
• How to survive the challenges of teaching: Teaching can be stressful at times, but there are many ways for you to remain focused. First, never take conflict with students personally; remember that your relationship with them is professional, and any disagreements should be handled professionally. It’s also important to periodically reflect on your life as a teacher to ensure that you still view it as a vocation and not just a job to suffer through.

A COURSE UNLIKE ANY WE’VE CRAFTED BEFORE

The art of teaching. It is a course that immerses you in the experience of being a teacher.

Professor Allitt’s course takes you across the country and brings you into the classrooms of some of the greatest universities in America, where you actually watch great teachers doing what they do best. The course is unique because it gives you knowledge on how to be an effective teacher and then demonstrates it for you.

You can hear views about teaching from the students themselves. Professor Allitt’s interviews with students offer a fresh perspective on the art and craft of teaching. What are the qualities of a good teacher? The perfect classroom experience would be described.

It has a wide range of perspectives and looks at the lives and minds of a variety of instructors. The art of teaching. The way you think about this profession will be changed. You will have a lot of skills to draw on in your own teaching by the end of the final lecture. You will find a source of inspiration and guidance that will last your entire career.