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Successful Methods and Techniques for Effective Teaching and Class Management Abstract

This paper describes the author’s methods and techniques for effective teaching and class management, which can be considered successful due to the consistently positive feedback which the author has received from students. While the information provided in this paper certainly is applicable to new faculty, these principles also can be utilized by more experienced faculty.

From the author’s experience, the majority of students wish to learn the material and are willing to work. It is critical that the professor prevent students from becoming frustrated and discouraged because of their perceptions regarding areas such as professor indifference, lack of course focus and organization, and unfair grading procedures. This especially is important for laboratory courses, for which the author has had extensive experience in teaching.

The governing principles which form the basis of the author’s methods for effective teaching are discussed. Additional topics covered in this paper include using lecture time effectively, conducting a laboratory course, administering assignments and exams, and grading consistently and fairly. The effective use of helpers such as homework graders and laboratory teaching assistants is discussed. The author also addresses the use of technology for teaching, specifically warning about becoming overly reliant on such technology.

Introduction

In today’s university environment, much is expected from professors regarding the education of students. One primary duty and responsibility of the university professor is to teach effectively. Specifically, the engineering professor is to train and evaluate the progress of those students who will be designing the products and conducting the research for the continued development of society and technology. The author has learned that most students genuinely appreciate instructors who make sincere efforts to fulfill this responsibility to educate them. This information is presented by the author under the core belief that it is a privilege to serve the university and society as a professor.

It is the author’s belief that most engineering professors, especially the new professors, wish to teach their classes well. This paper is intended to provide advice to new engineering educators regarding the methods and techniques for effective teaching and class management which the author has used as a professor in Mechanical Engineering at Bradley University since Fall 1997. These principles also can be utilized by more experienced faculty. The advice provided in this paper, while confirming principles and practices described in previous literature, provides new insights and ideas as well. These methods and techniques can be considered successful due to the consistently positive feedback which the author has received from students. Two examples of this positive feedback are the author’s inclusion in the 7th edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (May 2002) and the author’s nomination for the Bradley University Parents’ Association Award (April 2002). Both of these honors are student-initiated.

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Kim, D. (2007, June), Successful Methods And Techniques For Effective Teaching And Class Management Paper presented at 2007 Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 10.18260/1-2--1712