A brief training I did at Georgia Tech on best practices in teaching.

1. Best Teaching Practices
Teaching training

2. Overview
 What the best teachers do.
 Best Practices.
 Qualities of effective instructors.
 Teaching Techniques.
 Leftovers.
 Funny Image Game.
 Key Points.

3. Learning Outcomes
 The learner will be able to describe what the best college teachers do.
 The learner will be able to list the best practices in teaching.
 The learner will be able to rehearse the teaching techniques discussed.

4. What the best college teachers do
1.) They know their subjects well.
2.) Outstanding teachers are scholarly teachers.
3.) The best teachers expect more.
4.) They create a Natural Critical Learning Environment.
5.) Highly effective teachers have a strong trust in their students.
6. )They have a strategy to assess their efforts and make changes.
(Bain 2004)

5. Qualities of effective instructors:
Think/Pair/Share
 Think about and list three defining qualities of the Best & Worst teacher you have
ever had (5 minutes).
 Best Teacher= ______________ _______________ ________________
 Worst Teacher= ______________ _______________ _________________
 Pair up with a partner at your table and discuss the qualities you listed. Briefly describe
the best and worst teacher from your own experience, and explain why the qualities you
noted stood out.
 Share with full group

7. Teaching Techniques
 Awareness
 What do you do with your hands?
 Where do you stand or sit?
 Where/how do you move?
 Where do your eyes focus?
 When do you speak faster/slower?
 Do you laugh or smile?
 How do you begin/end?

8. Voice
 Common issues:
 Low volume
 Throat clearing
 Speaking too quickly
 Monotone/robot voice
 mumbling
 Tips!
 Warm up e.,g., You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York
 Change your inflection
 Increase your volume- practice over rap
 Breathe
 Variation
 Pause, take a breath, drink water.

9. Body language
 Common Issues
 Gaze evasion & scowling
 Slouchy or rigid
 Odd or compulsive gestures
 Spazzy movements or stasis
 Tips!
 Maintain eye contact
 Gesture consciously
 Hold a pen or hold arms behind back.
 Strike natural poses
 Warm up
 Stretch, breathe, rotate your shoulder and neck.
 Move deliberately
 Pace, but in small circles.

10. Energy
 Fight those nerves & control your energy!
 Tips!
 Channel your energy into the presentation. Be alive.
 Moderate your caffeine intake.
 Prepare and know your stuff!!!
 Dress well and look professional.
 Warm up body and voice.
 Breathe.
 Rehearse your material and your presentation.
 Focus on the learners.

11. Questioning tactics
 1. Ask one question at a time
 2. Avoid asking “any question?”
 3. Avoid yes/no questions
 4. Ask focused questions
 5. Avoid leading questions
 6. Be patient and wait silently
 7. Ask questions that lack a single yes/no
 8. Structure questions to encourage discussion
 9. Follow up for comprehension
 What questions do you have?

12. Leftovers
 1. Student centered teaching. When possible make active.
 2. Pick rules wisely, don’t have too many, but have a few hard rules.
 3. If a student is misbehaving speak with them outside, don’t call them out in front of class. And
if it is a small disturbance don’t waste your time .
 4. ABC= always be cool. Don’t lose your cool at students or interrupting instructors.
 5. Walk, but not too much. Take small steps as not to distract from content.
 6. Have music playing but cut it off when you are ready to start.
 7. Don’t show up so early that everyone is staring at you awkwardly in the front, but show up early
enough to prepare class.
 8. Handle questions right. If you don’t know, don’t bull shit, say you don’t know and you will find
out for them. Follow through.
 9. Project your voice. Practice speaking over loud music and going over your curriculum in front of
a mirror.

13. Funny Image Game
 1.) Break into groups of three or four.
 2.) Take the image I have given you and explain it to your group using the tips before.
 You can pretend it’s your life experience and how this impacted your life, or you can talk about why
this image is important and what this image means or what’s the story behind this image.
 Stand up straight, gesture consciously, maintain eye contact, project your voice etc.
 3.) Take turns and give each other feedback.

14. Key Points
 Prepare
 Be aware of body and voice
 Rehearse
 Be student centered, learner centered, active, and Socratic
 Learn to project your voice.