Effective Strategies For Teaching University Students

Teaching at a university is a challenging yet rewarding role. It involves much more than just standing in front of a lecture hall or leading a tutorial. University educators devote a significant proportion of their time to teaching, but only a fraction of this will be spent in a classroom with students. Lecturers must decide on teaching modes, plan course materials, learn new edtech, and do research to refine tutorial questions and reading lists. This requires a professional approach and strong interpersonal skills. In the classroom, it is important to vary your teaching style to capture all of your students' interest, for example by combining verbal and visual explanations, explaining concepts using a big picture and a detail-oriented approach, and giving students opportunities for active learning and reflection. Being enthusiastic about your topic will help to convey your love of your discipline to your students. It is also important to be clear about how grades will be calculated and to provide timely and encouraging feedback to help students improve.

Be enthusiastic about your topic

Enthusiasm is widely regarded as one of the most important qualities of an effective teacher. It is often the distinguishing characteristic of a good professor, as students become more engaged with a course and its material when their teacher is passionate about the subject matter.

Ways to show enthusiasm

• Convey your love of the discipline to your students. Show that you care about what they have to say and encourage them to participate.
• Be dynamic and energetic in your teaching style. Use a variety of teaching methods to keep your class interesting and engaging, such as combining verbal and visual explanations, providing real-world examples, and giving students opportunities for active learning and reflection.
• Be positive and cheerful in the classroom, even if you have to engage in some emotional labor to get there. This will create an empathetic and supportive environment, increasing student engagement and success.
• Show your students that you are committed to the subject by sharing your own experiences and perspectives. Be honest and open, and let your passion shine through.
• Make sure your students understand why you find the subject interesting and worthwhile. Help them see the value in what they are learning and how it can benefit them.

Combine teaching methods

Combining teaching methods is a great way to reach a wide range of students and ensure they are actively engaged with the content. It is important to vary your teaching style and not rely solely on one method, such as traditional lectures, which can be less successful due to the difficulty of processing and applying information simultaneously.

One way to combine methods is to use both verbal and visual explanations. For example, when explaining a complex concept, provide a verbal definition and then reinforce it with a visual representation, such as a diagram, infographic, or video. This helps students understand the information through multiple modalities and can make abstract ideas more concrete and memorable.

Another strategy is to vary the scope of your explanations. Sometimes, it is helpful to provide a "big-picture" overview of a topic, helping students understand how the individual details fit into a larger framework. At other times, it is beneficial to focus on the finer details, ensuring that students grasp the nuances and specific aspects of the subject matter. By combining these approaches, you can provide a comprehensive understanding of the material.

Encourage active learning and reflection by incorporating group activities, discussions, and practical exercises. For example, after introducing a new concept, divide the class into small groups to discuss and apply the concept. This allows students to collaborate, learn from their peers, and reinforce their understanding. Additionally, provide opportunities for students to reflect on their learning. This can be done through journaling, concept mapping, or class discussions, helping them to make connections, identify gaps in their understanding, and solidify their knowledge.

It is also essential to consider the learning outcomes and student needs when combining teaching methods. Different methods will be more or less effective depending on the specific goals of the lesson and the characteristics of the students. For example, guided instruction may be more suitable for teaching complex skills, while lectures could be used to convey theoretical knowledge. By aligning your teaching methods with the learning outcomes and student needs, you can create a cohesive and effective learning experience.

Make implicit expectations explicit

When teaching at a university, it is important to make implicit expectations explicit. Students are often learning how to navigate university expectations, and this can be challenging for them. To help students succeed, it is necessary to break down how to successfully participate in an activity or complete an assignment. This could look like modelling how to analyse an article or breaking down an essay into manageable steps. Then, give them time to practice with your guidance before expecting them to work independently.

One way to do this is to provide clear and detailed instructions for assignments and assessments, including the criteria for grading. Outline how you grade, what your expectations are, and what criteria you will use for grades early on. While most of this information will be in the syllabus, it is important to point out your expectations to students early and clearly. Be explicit about what constitutes A, B, C, D, etc. work.

Additionally, you can make implicit expectations explicit by creating an empathic and supportive environment. Check in with students regularly to see how they are doing and provide opportunities for them to give you feedback. This will increase both student engagement and success. Show your students that you care about them and their progress. Your support will help students build confidence and explore different pathways and opportunities.

Another way to make implicit expectations explicit is to vary your teaching style. Use a combination of teaching methods to reach as many students as possible. For example, combine verbal and visual explanations, and provide both "big-picture" and detail-oriented perspectives. Give students opportunities for active learning and reflection. This approach has many inclusion benefits and can enhance students' understanding and memory retention.

Be fair and consistent

Fairness is a key quality that students look for in their teachers. However, fairness does not mean treating everyone the same; rather, it means giving each student the opportunity to succeed in a way that is relatively easy yet challenging.

To be fair and consistent, it is important to avoid favouritism. For instance, calling on students based on drawing their names can prevent students from feeling like they are never picked. It is also important to value all students' contributions. Teachers can do this by providing a few extra seconds of wait time for students who need it and explicitly praising introverts for their contributions.

Another way to ensure fairness is to adapt instruction to make content accessible to the largest number of students possible. For example, teachers can ask all students to take turns being the class notetaker and then upload the notes to a course site for everyone. This supports students with disabilities, those developing note-taking skills, and those who may have missed class.

To promote fairness in grading, it is important to clearly articulate performance criteria for assignments and share them with students, perhaps in the form of a performance rubric. While rubrics take effort to create, they help students understand expectations and help teachers grade consistently. Teachers should also use grading strategies that promote reliability and consistency, such as grading one question at a time across the entire class.

Finally, it is important to recognise that students may have different definitions of fairness. Younger students, in particular, may equate fairness with everyone getting the same thing. To help students understand a different concept of fairness, teachers can ask them for examples from their lives where it is fair and good to treat people differently. Teachers can also explain that fairness means giving each person what they need, rather than treating everyone the same.

Use a variety of presentation techniques

When teaching at a university, it is important to use a variety of presentation techniques to cater to different learning styles and keep students engaged. Here are some strategies to achieve this:

Visual Aids and Multimedia

The use of visual aids is a powerful tool to enhance your lectures. Visuals can include charts, graphs, images, and videos, which can be easily incorporated through tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides. These tools allow you to project visuals that might otherwise be challenging to bring to class. For example, in a science course, you could use PowerPoint to show images of scientific phenomena or charts illustrating complex data. Additionally, make use of multimedia available in your classroom, such as chalkboards, projectors, and audio equipment, to create a dynamic learning environment.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

As an instructor, your verbal and non-verbal communication skills are essential. Use clear and concise language when explaining concepts, and vary your tone and volume to maintain interest. Non-verbal cues, such as hand gestures and facial expressions, can also help emphasize key points and engage your students. Move around the classroom while you speak to create a more interactive and dynamic learning environment.

Real-World Examples and Analogies

Bridge the gap between abstract concepts and students' existing knowledge by using practical, real-world examples and analogies. For instance, if you are teaching economics, you could use examples from everyday financial decisions to illustrate economic principles. This approach helps students relate to the material and understand how it applies to their lives.

Group Activities and Discussions

Incorporate group activities and discussions into your lectures to promote active learning. Divide students into small groups to discuss topics, share ideas, and collaborate on solutions. This approach fosters a sense of community in the classroom and allows students to learn from one another. It also gives them an opportunity to develop their communication and teamwork skills, which are valuable in any discipline.

Student Engagement and Feedback

Encourage student participation by creating a supportive and empathetic environment. Regularly check in with your students and provide opportunities for them to give feedback. Leverage communication tools, such as announcements and direct messaging, to stay connected. Use interactive features in your presentations, such as projecting opening questions or think-pair-share activities, to get students thinking and discussing the material with their peers.

By incorporating these techniques into your teaching repertoire, you will be able to cater to a diverse range of learning styles and create an engaging and inclusive classroom environment.

Frequently asked questions