It can be overwhelming to begin teaching at a new university–or maybe teaching for the first time at all! The resources below offer ideas for your course design, teaching, and professional wellbeing.
Reach out to the Center for Teaching staff with any questions or to schedule a consultation.
Course and Syllabus Design
- If you are building a new course, backwards course design offers one framework to create a semester-long teaching plan.
- Creating a learner-centered syllabus introduces opportunities for shared decision-making and conversation about course focus and purpose. This Sample Syllabus can get you started–don’t forget to include department and college-specific information!
- Unsure of how to break a semester into a cohesive course calendar? These strategies offer concrete suggestions for a balanced and focused plan.
- A one-page ‘essentials syllabus’ is a great way to introduce your course on the first day without overwhelming your students with a full syllabus (upload the full syllabus to Canvas instead). Check out this Sample Course Essentials from a class taught by our Center Faculty Director.
Lesson Planning
A written lesson plan helps organize your ideas for each class session and provides a record of your teaching ideas. Using a lesson plan can also provide space to reflect on what went well (or not!) each class session.
- This Teaching Plan Template can be adapted as an electronic document or in a notebook.
- This article offers a more detailed lesson plan model promoting flexibility and purposeful student engagement.
- One-sentence lesson plans offer a different take on getting at the what, how, and why of each lesson you teach. If you like brevity, this one is for you!
- Pattern teaching provides a structure for ‘chunking’ time in each class. It can be a great way to monitor how you manage time and prioritize lesson components.
First Day Ideas
- The first day of class offers a fantastic opportunity to establish community and build excitement for the weeks ahead. Use some of these First Day Strategies to jumpstart a great semester!
- Wondering how you will remember all those student names? Here are twenty ideas to make it a little easier.
Teaching and Assessment Ideas
- If you need alternatives to lecture, active learning strategies provide a variety of options for classes large and small. Additional strategies are appropriate for a variety of content areas.
- Remember that learning needs to be accessible for all students. These ideas promote accessibility in teaching, assessment, and materials–start small and pick one new idea to try.
- Inclusive teaching is a constant reflective process requiring purposeful decision-making. This Chronicle of Higher Education guide offers ideas and resources to minimize inequality in the classroom.
- James Lang shares his four go-to strategies for quick assessment of student understanding.
Faculty Life
- UMW faculty juggle a variety of teaching, research, and service responsibilities–not to mention, a life outside of the classroom! Consider using these Strategies for Success to make choices that support your personal and professional wellbeing.