Planning a Course
Addressing Students' Needs
Teaching Tips
Before a course begins, consider:
- What, specifically, do you want your students to be able to accomplish?
- What concrete skills do you want them to develop by the end of the semester?
- What techniques will most effectively build these skills?
- How can you communicate these requirements through a thorough and well-written syllabus?
Teaching so that every student can be included begins long before the first day of class. For example, the simple act of including language such as “accessible” in course materials sends an important message to students. Throughout the course, varying teaching methods can allow more students to excel (Davis, 1993; McKeachie, 1994).
- What flexibility can you develop in your methods of instruction so that students with different learning styles can all benefit from the course?
- Are there adaptive technologies available that will allow students with disabilities to participate fully?
- And, since we live in a culture where stereotypes are common, are you aware of any preconceived ideas about your students that you may bring to the classroom?
In Part One of this resource book, we begin by giving you some simple and helpful tools to build student accomplishment, foster understanding, and facilitate participation and inclusion.
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