Introduction

·  The class - Size, scope

·  The students - Biblical (il)literacy

·  The departments - Expectations, evaluations

Seven Principles for Good Practice in Education©*

·  Encourages contact between students & faculty

·  Develops reciprocity, cooperation among students

·  Encourages active learning

·  Gives prompt feedback

·  Emphasizes time on task

·  Communicates high expectations

·  Respects diverse talents & ways of learning

·  *http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/7princip.htm

Research on Major Issues and Strategies

·  Effect of size

·  Lectures vs. Discussions

·  Active Learning

·  Exams

·  Religious issues

·  Grading

·  Technology

Implementation

·  Hesitation to give up lectures

·  My Strategies

·  Starting prayer / text

·  Experiential learning paper

·  Online weekly discussion topics

·  Individual meetings

·  Learning names

·  Posted outlines

·  Multimedia

·  Debates

·  Site visits

·  Guest speakers

·  Evaluations

·  Changes in classroom approach – moving away from lectures

·  Student response? - Improved overall ratings, “Stimulation of intellectual and creative thought” increased

·  Progress to goals - Some better, none substantially worse

·  Change in attitude, preparation, ability to discuss

Resources

·  AAR Syllabi: www.aarweb.org/syllabus/default.asp

·  Teaching Theology and Religion (Wabash)

·  www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu

·  Tomorrow’s Professor List: E-mail to

o  No subject, 1st line of text: subscribe tomorrows-professor

·  McKeachie, Wilbert J. McKeachie’s Teaching Tips – Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers. 11th ed. (Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 2002)

·  Porter, Adam L. Introducing the Bible – An Active Learning Approach. (Prentice-Hall, 2004)

·  Nilson, Linda B. Teaching at its Best – A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors. (Anker, 1998)

Conclusion

·  No simple solutions - Pick the strategies that will work for you

·  Have some extra activities prepared in case you have extra time

·  Integrate - explain to students why you’re doing it! Have fun!

Acknowledgements:

·  Notre Dame’s Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning

·  Theology Department, University of Notre Dame