If I had a dollar for every student who asked me, “Do we really need to get the textbook?” I’d be writing this article in Bali. From a student’s perspective, textbooks and reading assignments can be the worst thing about a course, not just because of cost. My new students grill me about the textbook […]
Check out these tips on introductions, icebreakers and first lectures
No matter how comfortable you are teaching in the classroom, these tips will help you deliver engaging and high-quality presentations
Conferences and webinars that will help you connect with other innovative educators, learn about engaging course design and find new ways to engage your students
Online teaching isn’t going away. Here’s how to triage which modality is the most effective for you and your students.
Give all learners the same opportunity to succeed by adjusting your syllabus, communication style and course policies
Well-crafted letters of recommendation can open doors for students pursuing extracurricular, professional and personal development opportunities
Top books to help you prioritize engagement, inclusivity and your own well-being in the months ahead
Innovative educators share their advice for putting student success at the forefront—without risking burnout
Combat distractions and procrastination as a professor by using these tools designed to help you save time and increase productivity
One professor discusses some top tips for presenting course material to today's students in an effective and engaging way
From choosing a textbook to creating tests and exams to designing in-class participation activities, Top Hat makes it easy to prepare for your course
Myths can be harmful. Confronting neuromyths about learning will help educators pursue a primary mandate they share with doctors: do no harm
From incorporating open-book testing, to utilizing secure online assessment technology, there are a number of ways professors can prevent cheating in their courses
Karen Quevillon teaches writing and literature, online and in-class, across several colleges in Ontario, Canada. Here, she explains how you can anticipate students who might drop out by structuring your course well and learning when to reach out.
There are good reasons colleges conduct student course evaluations, though you might be forgetting them as you skim through your results. Were these students in the same classroom as you? How should you understand the comment that describes your delivery as “strict”? And what importance will college administrators attach to the finding that 22 percent […]
Top Hat’s panel of innovative educators have one piece of advice for rookie educators eager to start afresh in 2019—try something new, but slow down. “This is your domain, and you get to choose how you want to instruct students,” says Leslie Sprunger, associate professor at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Be willing […]
Some days, students respond well to your lesson; other days you can’t seem to get through. That’s where reflective teaching can help. As the term suggests, reflective teaching is thinking about what you’re teaching, and why you’re teaching it. But it goes a step beyond that. It’s about collecting and analyzing that data — exploring […]
If you love to teach and have a passion for your industry, you may want to consider part-time work in higher education. Here’s how to become an adjunct professor. In this role, you teach courses just like a professor with tenure, but without the same responsibilities (or pay). Typically, an adjunct professor is an educator […]
To the outsider, being a college or university professor seems like a great career. You get to work everyday in a field or subject you’re passionate about, conducting research and educating the minds of tomorrow. Here’s a guide on entering the profession, and how to get the title Professor