Friends of OSU,
Last year I created a summary of the literature on cognition research, pedagogical research, professional portfolios, and intellectual coaching to create the Six Principles of University Teaching. OSU Center for Teaching and Learning has been using this model of teaching excellence for a number of activities for faculty: creating teaching portfolios to supplement students’ ratings of instruction (for promotion and tenure); the observation of teaching; and specific sessions for departments.
These six principles are admittedly hefty in content. Still they provide a solid outline for our professional growth as teachers. Teaching excellence is a life time pursuit. Even after over thirty years in teaching I still have lessons, that upon reflection, could have been stronger. I wouldn’t recognize my need to improve a lesson without reflection…and the opportunity to try the lesson again. This process of design, implement, reflect, and revise is so central to teaching improvement. If teachers do not have the opportunity to teach that course again, as improved, we miss a valuable opportunity for growth. This is why it is important to assign faculty, early in their teaching careers, the same class to teach from quarter to quarter.
Should you have an interest in learning strategies for observing teaching, please consider joining our upcoming PLC called Teaching Triads. Participants us the Six Principles to guide the observation of teaching in a supportive environment. The hybrid PLC starts on February 3rd with an online module. We are looking for two more people to join us so we can work in cross-disciplinary trios.
Here now for your reflection are the Six Principles of University Teaching for your use:
Six Principles of University Teaching
Principle #1: Consider the Audience
The instructor’s approach to learning is based on recent cognition research and understands how language competencies, physical abilities, cultures, communities, and social identity influence learners’ acquisition of knowledge and skills. The instructor uses this knowledge to differentiate the curriculum: engaging students in equitable and positive classroom behaviors; designing valuable and relevant learning tasks; and clearly communicating academic expectations to learners. The instructor creates a learning environment that supports individual and collaborative learning by ensuring students feel accepted by the teacher and peers.
Principle #2: Plan
The instructor understands the central concepts, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and is able to plan for students’ development of knowledge over time. Instructors are able to identify where the courses s/he teaches fit into the program’s curriculum and uses this information to intentionally design courses to develop students’ knowledge and skills at the appropriate level of rigor. The instructor ensures alignment between course outcomes and course content, course content and the assessment tools. Prior to teaching a course the instructor identifies the “critical points” in the course where students are most likely to struggle, and plans additional supports to help learners make accurate sense of the difficult content.
Principle #3: Enhance Engagement
The teacher works with others to create a positive and safe learning environment for all. The instructor models and requires positive, respectful social interaction and clearly communicates academic expectations: homework is clearly relevant and at the appropriate level of difficulty; formative and summative assessments are designed to promote the students’ ability to communicate what they have learned. The instructor connects course content to students’ prior knowledge and extends and refines students’ knowledge through authentic tasks, such as complex problem solving, critical discourse and civic activism.
Principle #4: Teach
Each class session, directly aligned to one or more course outcomes, begins with engaging attention getting openings that capture students’ interest. The instructor uses a variety of instructional strategies to enhance both individual and collaborative student engagement: engaging lectures are abbreviated; class sessions include small and/or whole group discussion; writing; cooperative learning: problem solving, think-pair-share; jigsaw, etc. Metaphors, analogies, stories, cooperative activities, technology and demonstrations are regularly incorporated into teaching to illustrate ideas and concepts. Lessons close with a revisiting of the day’s lesson objective.
Principle #5: Assess
Academic expectations are clearly and consistently communicated to students. The instructor uses a variety assessment tools during the course to monitor learner progress and uses that data to adjust and pace the teaching of the course. Grading procedures are designed to accurately reflect students’ acquisition of key knowledge and skills developed during a course. Summative (final) assessments are directly aligned to the content and skills taught and developed during the course (the course outcomes).
Principle #6: Reflect
The instructor engages in both formal and informal reflection about teaching effectiveness, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, colleagues, and the community). Professional learning is evidence-based and informed by research. The instructor uses new knowledge and the scholarship of teaching to modify and adapt teaching practices. The instructor collaborates with colleagues in the continuous improvement of teaching practice.
