Creating classes takes time. Does this sound familiar? Get up. Write lecture. Teach said lecture. Go home. Write next lecture for other class. Teach said lecture. Etc. I'm amazed at my friends who teach 4-4 loads. I envision signage: Cruelty to Faculty.
A junior prof we know taught 14 new preps in three years. Her chair didn't realize her situation until she finally brought it to his attention (at which point he expressed horror). Some departments limit junior faculty to six new preps, which seems about right. Speak up! Remember to protect your time.
Strategies for protecting your time while also teaching fabulously:
1. Ask for a T/Th schedule
2. If you are lucky enough to have a T/TH schedule, prep your Th class on T and your T class on Th. Doing so lessens the anxiety of not finishing the prep work before the class and the likelihood of all-out brawls next to the copy machine.
3. If you are unlucky enough to be teaching MWF, don't make the mistake I made and plan lectures for all three days. Use films or Utube, group work (or if you have a large class, short group presentations), and research exercises on M and W. Friday should always be a discussion. They will thank you for breaking up the monotony of lecturing.
4. Involve your students in the process of teaching.
5. In the words of a wise assoc prof, each class has one point and three good visuals.
6. Remember that teaching is one of three jobs that you have. Great teaching doesn't happen when you are giving up your time in other areas to finish that damn power point.
So those are my strategies. They aren't perfect. What are yours?
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I have a T/Th and usually prep the day before as it takes me at least a full day to pull everything together for a new lecture. Now that I'm beginning to teach classes for the second and third time, however, I limit myself to the morning of (when I've an afternoon schedule). Prepping the day of (or the day before when it's a new lecture) makes me cut my losses at some point and say, "good enough" - else I'd tinker forever instead of doing my research.
ReplyDeleteIf teaching more than one class in a semester, especially if they are new preps, be sure to compare the lecture schedules before giving the syllabus out to students. You don't want four new preps in one week! If you see that when you compare syllabi, build in a movie, project work day, guest lecture, field trip, etc. No need driving yourself crazy.