Delivering same course again : How to start afresh

Alexandre Enkerlihttp://enkerli.wordpress.com/http://www.slideshare.net/Enkerli

Introductions (type in chatbox)

•Where are you from?•What do you teach?•Anything else?

Presentation

•Not expert▫Some expertise▫Sharing from experience

•Outlined raw notes•Backchannel as separate stream•Free discussion at end

Fresh New Semester

•Excitement▫“Born to teach” on Facebook

•Enthusiasm•Fever (“febrility”=«fébrilité»)

▫Eagerness▫Anxiety

“Same Course”

•Sections of same course•Similar courses same semester

•Same course different semesters

“I Can Teach It in My Sleep”

•Explored subject broadly•Expect student reactions•Know what doesn’t work•Are they learning in their sleep?

Pet Theory

•Three Times a Charm•First semester: fresh•Second semester: rehearsed•Third semester: tested•Fourth semester and later: routine

Teacher Crisper •Keeping fresh•Social life•Research involvement•Building new course•Renewing “old“ course

Teaching Elsewhere

•Visiting professor/lecturer•Teaching online•Attend colleagues’ classes

Taking Chances

•Letting students share control•“What’s the worst that can happen?”•Think on your feet•Keep on your toes•It may fail•Safe environment, low stakes•“Good stress”

Adapting

•Freedom and loopholes•Changeup•Different lectures•“Can’t all be winners”•Adapt at first•Adapt during semester

Student Diversity

• Students’ backgrounds• Change every year• Cohorts• Mindset list• Adapting to students• Can be increased (opening up to new

departments)

Building Courses

•Building syllabi•Pre-built to pet course•Won’t be perfect the first time•Context-specific•Learning experience when context

changes

Syllabus

•Topics•Readings•Evaluation

▫Assignments and texts•Course format

Collaborative Syllabus

•Have students vote on topics•IU FACET’s More Quick hits•Gauging student interest•Engaging students in process•Flexibility•Easier with electronic reserve

Content•Academic texts

▫Coursepack▫New readings

•Textbook•Current events•Media•Can get from students•Can build with students

Accumulating•Shoulders of giants•Recording•Podcasting•Test banks•Students also have•New material•Can always expand• More material available, easier to expand

Inviting Guests

•New content “for free”•Shift in student perspective•New people every semester

Project-Based Courses

•Always renewed•Collaborative learning•Teamwork

▫Whole class▫Smaller teams

Using Technology

•Not forced•Trying out•Playing with tools

Method to My Madness

•Free notetaking•Outline structure•Lesson plan•Slides

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