For new instructors, a teaching challenge can be learning the content, the pacing, and anticipating student questions. For more seasoned instructors, how do you stay engaged and revived when teaching material (for what feels like the 100th time)?
In every subject, there are new findings, new perspectives, and new research that can help enliven your teaching. Staying fresh on these findings can include searching the literature, talking with colleagues who teach the same course at Iowa State and other institutions, and attending conferences in your discipline.
In addition to staying up to date with content, getting to know your students can help you understand their interests and passions as they relate to the topic. You, or through student projects, can provide opportunities to dig deeper into a specific issue or topic. For many Iowa State University instructors, working with Honors students can be tremendously rewarding, particularly as their research findings can help enliven future teachings of the topic.
Also, are their “hot topics” or current events that can make the topic more relatable and of interest to the students? These relevant current events can further add credibility to you as the instructor, and to the importance of studying your field before students enter their chosen career paths.
With a joy for teaching,
Sara Marcketti, Director
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
Full Teaching Tip
View the published CELT Teaching Tip: How do you stay engaged when teaching? (October 31, 2019 – Constant Contact) website.
Prefer a Print version?
To view the Teaching Tip as a printable document with web addresses, download the CELT Teaching Tip for October 31, 2019 (PDF)