Advice for New Faculty Advice for New Faculty MembersMembers

Robert Boice. (2000)Robert Boice. (2000)

Eight Rules for Working at Eight Rules for Working at Teaching with ModerationTeaching with Moderation

Rule no. 1: WaitRule no. 1: Wait

Pause before Writing or Talking to Pause before Writing or Talking to Reflect.Reflect.

Use pauses playfully and planfully.Use pauses playfully and planfully. Put some of what you think into Put some of what you think into

writing.writing.

Active waiting is an alternative to Active waiting is an alternative to impatienceimpatience

Rule 2: Begin Before Rule 2: Begin Before Feeling ReadyFeeling Ready

No one feels ready especially: No one feels ready especially: procrastinators, perfectionists, procrastinators, perfectionists, elitists, blockers, and elitists, blockers, and oppositionals. oppositionals.

Rule #3: Prepare & Rule #3: Prepare & Present in Present in Brief, Regular, SessionsBrief, Regular, Sessions

Avoid binges of over-preparationAvoid binges of over-preparation working under pressure & working under pressure &

excitement leads to hypomania, excitement leads to hypomania, sadness, disinterest and sadness, disinterest and inefficiencies. inefficiencies.

Begin before feeling fully readyBegin before feeling fully ready

Rule #4: Stop!Rule #4: Stop!

Stop in a timely manner.Stop in a timely manner. This reduces impatience and This reduces impatience and

intolerance.intolerance. Rushed teaching is poor pedagogy.Rushed teaching is poor pedagogy. Leave time at the end of class for Leave time at the end of class for

all sorts of loose ends. all sorts of loose ends.

Rule #5: Moderate over Rule #5: Moderate over attachment to content & attachment to content & overreaction to criticismoverreaction to criticism

Rely on brief notes for lecture and Rely on brief notes for lecture and discussion. Make them into overheadsdiscussion. Make them into overheads

make only a few main points in class & make only a few main points in class & convey them patiently, with carefully convey them patiently, with carefully chosen examples and discussions. chosen examples and discussions.

Remember that good teaching, like Remember that good teaching, like research, is provisional.research, is provisional.

Practice early evaluation.Practice early evaluation.

Rule #6: Moderate Rule #6: Moderate Negative ThinkingNegative Thinking

Myths about genius, artistry, great Myths about genius, artistry, great inventors and brilliant teachers inventors and brilliant teachers make us feel pedestrian and make us feel pedestrian and inadequate. inadequate.

Remember that the other side of Remember that the other side of teaching is learning. teaching is learning.

Rule #8: Let others do Rule #8: Let others do some of the work. some of the work.

Let go of some control and credit.Let go of some control and credit. Use of peers & mentors to talk & share.Use of peers & mentors to talk & share. Collaborate in classroom teaching.Collaborate in classroom teaching.

observe and critique colleagues’ classes.observe and critique colleagues’ classes.

Invite them to do the same for you. Invite them to do the same for you.

Rule #9: Rule #9: Moderate Classroom Moderate Classroom IncivilitiesIncivilities

Causes:Causes: too much material at too fast a pace at too much material at too fast a pace at

too difficult a level for student too difficult a level for student involvement.involvement.

Content remains abstract, irrelevant.Content remains abstract, irrelevant. Professor can’t relate to average Professor can’t relate to average

student.student. We care more for teaching than We care more for teaching than

learning.learning.

Incivilities: preventionIncivilities: prevention

Teach with compassion, openness, Teach with compassion, openness, and patience.and patience.

Communicate with immediacy & Communicate with immediacy & comprehension and pacing.comprehension and pacing.

Remember your role as a Remember your role as a reinforcer of high standards - of reinforcer of high standards - of respect for learning and for others. respect for learning and for others.

ConclusionConclusion

““Physics is experience, arranged in Physics is experience, arranged in economical order” (Ernst Mach)economical order” (Ernst Mach)

So is teaching. So is teaching. Best wishesBest wishes contact me at tdc@uregina.ca or contact me at tdc@uregina.ca or

585-5284. 585-5284.