PrintDecember 31, 2006
Teaching All Kinds of Students
It is amazing that in universities almost no one is taught how to teach. It is assumed that because one has a degree in a field one knows how to teach. Like many assumptions, this one is dubious. My own philosophy of teaching includes communicating effectively the course material, but using humor, student discussion, and participation, and encouraging critical thinking, not just memorization of the material. Some memorization is needed, of course, and we are not pure entertainers. But, we need to do more than most do to engage students. Otherwise, most of the material will soon be forgotten and the course will have little or no effect on the student.For my teaching at University of Texas-Pan American, a school serving many Hispanics, I have learned how to teach students who, often, are the first in the family to attend college. Teaching here, I have learned the importance of coaching how to study, how to review the chapters, and how to read chapters by first...(Read Full Article)
