Engineering Teaching Excellence Institute Kathryn Dimiduk

Place in curriculum prerequisites follow-on courses co-requisites

Prior year’s content Textbook Professor’s list of major topics (by name not textbook

chapter) Math, computer, other skills students have or need

Outline of course by topics

Skills to be learned

Novice to Expert Thinking

University Calendar Exams

◦ How many, in class or evening Lectures

◦ How many◦ Length◦ Events (using class time)

Assignments◦ Type◦ How often◦ How many

Class organization Teaching methods

Content grid◦ Topics◦ Skills – spread out across course◦ Thinking – guide towards more expert patterns

Main topic

Subtopic

Needed skills

Skills to be taught

Notes

Electro-statics30% of course

Charges,Conductors insulators,background

Demo: electroscope, action at a distance, charging by induction

Coulomb’s LawElectric Forces

Calculus Superposition

Superposition activity

Gauss’ law Vector Calculus

Symmetry to simplify

Colored chalk to show structure of examples

Electric potential

Divergence Demo: van der graaf generator

Main Topic

Subtopic

Skills needed

Skills to be taught

Notes

Capacitors Capacitor energy storage - bang

Circuits10% of course

Series, parallelKirchoff

AlgebraLinear algebraCalculator matrix sol

Error checking

Group hard algebraic problem: how to check work

Capacitors, resistors, inductors

Conceptual checks of answers, Conceptual understanding

Clicker Q

Detailed Schedule on Calendar◦ Days for lectures◦ Fit grid on calendar◦ “adjustment days” expand or contract content so

fits as semester progresses◦ Exams

Week Date Lecture Reading HW

1 Jan 19, 2009

IntroChargesmaterials

Ch 1: 1-3

Jan 21 ChargingCoulomb’s Law,

Ch 1: 4-5

Jan 23 Superposition & activity

Ch 1:6-8

2 Jan 26 Gauss’ law

Ch 2: 1-2 HW 1 dueCh 1: p 4, 17, 23 and …See blackboard

Plan whole semester in advance Hand out one of following

◦ Entire calendar ◦ One month at a time◦ Until the next test◦ A less detailed version

Shock absorber days to adjusting timing◦ Less important material◦ Applications that can be added or omitted

Label calendar Tentative

Blank and sample course planning spreadsheet

Course calendar for spring 2009 for MWF course and for TR course

Detailed outline of this talk University information

◦ Exams◦ Rooms◦ Services◦ ….

Lets you do the planning just once Keep on track, less worry Adjust content to fit schedule chapter by

chapter Don’t skip last chapter(s) due to poor

planning

Take Notes on schedule for next time

Clickers◦ Real time feedback◦ Easy to collect teaching data◦ Students learn more effectively◦ Questions get easier to write with practice

◦ Clickers◦ Think Pair Share◦ Minute Papers◦ Clear – Muddy◦ Simulations◦ Worksheets◦ Hands-on activities

◦ Attend active learning talk for more information

(A) 1 hour or less(B) About 2 hours(C) 3-5 hours(D) 6 or more hours(E) Just wing it

(A) About a day(B) About a week(C) At least a month(D) All available time and more(E) Why didn’t someone tell me I was

teaching before the course started?

(A) 1 hour or less(B) 2-3 hours(C) 4-6 hours(D) 7-9 hours(E) 10 or more hours

Course description or content or goals◦ What are you teaching◦ How are you teaching it ◦ Why is it important

Basic course information◦ Course name and number◦ Class time and location◦ Prerequisites◦ Credit hours◦ Grading options if available

Instructor information◦ Your name (and rank?)◦ Your email◦ Your office or dept. office ◦ Phone number – yours or dept. office◦ Any contact encouragement or rules◦ Office hours

Other teaching staff◦ Team teachers◦ TA(s)◦ Grader(s)◦ Lab TA(s)◦ For each give name and appropriate contact info

Required materials◦ Textbook◦ Course packet◦ Lab manual◦ Calculator or computer or programs◦ Other required materials

Course Policies◦ What do the students need to know right away◦ What needs to be in writing◦ Attendance rules◦ No cheating◦ How to hand in work

How will the course be graded◦ What will be graded?◦ What weight will be given to each component?◦ Will any grades be dropped◦ Late policy◦ Excused and unexcused absences

What is allowed What will happen What documentation is needed

How will the course be taught◦ Lectures◦ Active Learning◦ Homework◦ Reading◦ Papers or reports◦ Labs◦ …..

Verified Disabilities will be accommodated Tutoring through …. Extra help available through …. Office hours other

Technology◦ Blackboard◦ Class website◦ Blackboard◦ Wiki◦ Clickers◦ etc

What material will be covered in the course Tentative schedule for covering material

or approximately how much of the course is on each topic

When will exams be given When are major assignments due Any special events

Components - select and add as needed Reread for tone – does the syllabus

welcome the students and share the excitement of learning?

Proof read – first contact with students– Errors make a poor first impressionHave someone else proof read

Make enough copies or post to website

Questions?