Course Planning & Teaching Resources
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching offers a wide variety of resources for college teachers who wish to practice effective teaching strategies and enhance student learning.
Each semester's programming includes workshops on various teaching topics, university-wide Faculty Forums, and Teaching and Learning Circles. One-on-one consultation and classroom obervations are also available.
For faculty planning a course, CELT staff can offer feedback on syllabi, discuss course objectives, and consult on learning outcomes. Suggestions and examples for faculty at the beginning of the semester and over the course of the term are available through our virtual classroom visits.
CELT also offers ideas on techniques for teaching both large and small classes, and strategies for effective assessment both during the semester (formative assessment) and at the end of the course (summative assessment).
For assessment of teaching, CELT has compiled Resources Related to Peer Review of Teaching as well as a statement of best practices for the Peer Evaluation of Teaching in cases where it plays a role in personnel decisions such as promotion and the granting of tenure.
The CELT Library, located in 3024 Morrill Hall, has an array of materials relating to all aspects of teaching and learning as well as professional development of college teachers and academic administrators.
The TA Handbook, including information and help for new teachers on grading, classroom management, professional development and more is available as part of CELT's Teaching Resources.
CELT also publishes a quarterly newsletter and sends a weekly email to more than 1000 subscribers.
Course Planning
Disabilities (ISU Dean of Students Office)
First Day of Classes: 101 Ideas for a Great Start
First-Day Tips for Large Class Instruction (useful for smaller classes too)
Welcoming Students on the First Day
Clarifying Classroom Procedures in an Introductory Large Class
Reviewing the Syllabus and Note Taking Procedures
Implementing Interactive Activities in a Large Class to Build Community
First Day of Class (The Ohio State University)
First Day of Class — A Day of Missed Opportunities? (UNC at Chapel Hill)
Specific Approaches and Techniques
Case Study Teaching in Science (University at Buffalo, The State University of New York)
Collaborative Learning (National Institute for Science Education)
Cooperative Learning (Cooperative Learning Center, University of Minnesota)
Problem-Based Learning (University of Delaware)
Service-Learning (Iowa State University)
Team-Based Learning (University of Oklahoma)
Teaching and Classroom Practice
Classroom Observation / Course Consultation
Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs)
Clickers for Student Engagement
Cinzia Cervato – Exams as a Learning Activity in a Large Class
Jane Cox – The Teacher as an Actor
Barb Krumhardt – Clickers in Anatomy and Physiology Classes
Jay Newell – Plus Delta for Early Semester Formative Assessment
Bill Simpkins – Humor in the Classroom
First-Day Tips for Large Class Instruction
Helping large classes learn: [Iowa State] Faculty develop special strategies (article in Inside Iowa State)
[Iowa State] Instructors share ideas: Large class teaching tips (article in Inside Iowa State)
Penn State Large Class FAQ (The Pennsylvania State University)
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
Teaching and Learning - General Interest
A Model of Learning Objectives (based on A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing:
A Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives)Student Guide to Multiple Choice Exams