SCI 6185 - How to Teach Science

This online graduate level course is a nuts and bolts introduction to how to teach science at the college level. The course will survey a variety of teaching-related topics, including: how to create a syllabus, how to manage the first day of class, how to create assessments and evaluate learning, how to teach in lecture and laboratory settings, how to prepare and present a lecture, how to lead discussions, how to grade written work, how to evaluate your course, how to handle controversial topics, etc. The course will also include advice on presentation skills, how to improve as an instructor, and how to create teaching portfolios and curriculum vitae that document your teaching competencies. Many of these topics will be motivated with reference to considerations of how people learn science, but our focus throughout will be on the mechanics of instruction, not theory. The course includes brief introductory readings, videos, opportunities to discuss topics and short writing assignments.

Credits: 3 hours

Notes: Open to graduate students only.