Teaching

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This page contains some tips for teaching. It's currently a stub page, so professors, instructors, & grad students who have experience TAing or teaching their own course, please contribute.

[edit] Ideas for Introductions

Often at the beginning of a class, you want students to get to know each other better. It is sometimes hard to know what to ask them to get them to talk about themselves in a meaningful way. PhD students are often asked what their research interests are, but this will probably not work for most undergraduates. Therefore, here are a few ideas. It is noted when ideas will only work for certain populations.

What is your name?
What is(are) your major(s)/minor(s) (undergrads); Department (grads)?
What are your general interests? (better for undergrads, though not necessarily limited to undergrads)
Why are you (back) in school?
What made you choose your major/Department?
- Why do you find your major/area interesting?
What is your major/what do people in your area actually do?
- it's a good idea to ask this question out of curiosity, or for the benefit of their fellow students
What are your research interests? (PhD students)
What do you hope to do when you graduate? (Undergrads or Masters)
Why are you interested in the IT Minor? (undergrads in the IT Minor)
Why are you interested in taking this class?
- Why did you choose to take this class?
  - Might be better to ask this version of the question if you expect that some people took it just as filler.
- What do you hope to learn in this class/learn by taking this class?

Afterwards, it might be a good idea to comment on the diverse backgrounds of the students, and emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of LIS/the topic of the course, and emphasize that the only way we will all learn the most is if people contribute their various perspectives and experiences.