In a world in which we are bombarded with elaborate teaching techniques, it’s easy to forget the simple things that can make a course successful. Chris Palmer, a professor in the School of Communication at American University, offers the following tips for fostering an effective learning environment in the classroom.
Setting a Classroom Atmosphere
- Show up early for class
- Take roll, learn students’ names, and encourage students to learn and use one another’s names
- Convey your passion and enthusiasm for the subject
- Create a welcoming environment
- Foster a sense of belonging and respect
- Encourage high performance
- Promote active engagement
- Make the class interactive
- For small classes, sit in a circle
- Carefully manage lecture-based classes
Managing Classroom Interactions
- Start with a (student) summary of last class
- Write the plan for the class on board
- Call on students frequently to answer questions
- Encourage quiet students to speak
- Listen actively to students during discussions
- Incorporate peer review
- Consider permitting homework counter-offers
- Wrap up the class
- End class on time
Continuing Beyond the Classroom
- Use formative assessments
- Manage your office hours
- Reach out to students who miss a class
- Be responsive to e-mails and calls from students
- Give plenty of student feedback
Visit the following sites for details on each of these tips:
Chris Palmer can be reached at palmer@american.edu.
For more information, contact: The Institute for Teaching and Learning at itl@uconn.edu