Effective College and University Teaching

"This is a very exciting project…[a]part from being helmed by two exemplary teachers, there is a strong line-up of authors. This will be the most up-to-date book of its kind as it takes the perspective of educating GTA supervisors and is not just a ′tips′ book." Regan A. R. Gurung, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

Using empirical research, Effective College and University Teaching gives faculty and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) effective strategies and tactics for pursuing excellence in their teaching, be it in the classroom or online. Whereas the majority of books on college and university teaching are how-to books, this volume provides both the rationale and a detailed guide for how to use these practices and teach them to others. Written by leading scholars and master teachers, this book outlines, reviews, and discusses best practices for becoming an effective undergraduate teacher. Aimed at the professional development of professors and graduate students, this text provides full coverage of those topics central to effective teaching practices such as developing a teaching philosophy, becoming an ethical teacher, and fostering active learning in the classroom.

William Buskist is the Distinguished Professor in the Teaching of Psychology at Auburn University and a Faculty Fellow at Auburn’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. He has published widely on issues related to teaching and learning, both within his own discipline of psychology and more generally in higher education. His most recent publications include edited works with Groccia (Evidence-Based Teaching) and with Victor Benassi (Effective College and University Teaching: Strategies and Tactics for the New Professoriate). He has served as President for the Society for the Teaching of Psychology and is currently the Editor-in Chief for the Society’s e-book program). He has won numerous teaching awards at both the local and national levels as have many of his graduate student protégés. He is a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science. Victor Benassi is a professor of psychology and faculty director of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Center for Teaching Excellence. He has taught courses in college teaching and supervised graduate students′ teaching of psychology since the early 1980s. His research has addressed such topics as judgment of personal control, belief in alleged paranormal phenomena, and depression. Additionally, Professor Benassi is involved in developing and implementing Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) programs at UNH. He is one of several people from UNH who developed and implemented a formal academic program in college teaching that is available to graduate students and faculty from UNH and other institutions. In recent years, he has been developing an online course titled Preparing to Teach a Psychology Course. Through the efforts of eight master teachers of psychology, over 200 graduate students and faculty from the United States and eight other countries have completed the course. Dr. Benassi also has joint appointments as Professor of Psychology (Psychology Department) and Professor of College Teaching (Graduate School). He has received several UNH awards—the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Outstanding Use of Technology in Education Award, and the College of Liberal Arts’ Lindberg Outstanding Scholar/Teacher Award. In 2003, he received the American Psychological Foundation′s Distinguished Teaching of Psychology award.