Now that you’ve thought about your relationship to your students, developed plans for the semester, and successfully led your first section or lab, it’s time to begin the real work of teaching. Over time, you’ll find a rhythm and routine that balances preparation, instruction, and reflection, which will help you manage your many professional and personal commitments throughout the semester.
In this chapter, we’ll go over what makes a section, review session, or lab successful. From designing lessons to fostering discussion and guiding activities, we’ll cover fundamental teaching strategies to enhance student learning and engagement. Although some aspects are specific to Teaching Fellows (TFs) or Part-Time Acting Instructors (PTAIs), the skills you develop—communication, leadership, and adaptability—are invaluable in any career, whether in academia or beyond.
By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to…
- Design engaging sections using backward design and active learning strategies.
- Assess your teaching for equitability, accessibility, and flexibility using Universal Design for Learning (UDL), equitable teaching, and student-centered approaches,
- Facilitate discussions and identify opportunities for flexibility and engagement.