This essay can save you money and make you a better teacher. Few graduate programs offer extensive training in how to teach, and many offer none at all. When it comes to developing teaching skills, new faculty are often left on their own unless they are fortunate enough to be on a campus with a good center for teaching and learning. Luckily, the past 25 years have seen an outpouring of resources on teaching in the form of books, blogs, journals, videos, and websites. Some must be purchased, but many are free. The topics and quality vary considerably, as do the authors’ background and the target audience. Some are based on research, others on personal teaching experience. It’s hard to know where to start. Every issue of The Teaching Professor is full of tips, ideas, and perspectives, but they may not apply to the problems you are currently facing in your teaching. The goal of this essay is to give you credible, accessible resources that address the cognitive challenges of teaching you are experiencing.
