Strategically improving the quality, effectiveness of postsecondary teaching: Opinion

Postsecondary institutions can improve the quality and effectiveness of their instructors’ teaching by focusing strategically on student learning, engagement, and motivation, as well as how to support students in learning the skills and knowledge they need for success, writes Steven Mintz. Mintz argues that teaching evaluations and assessments are typically ineffective, and encourages institutions to improve teaching quality through other initiatives such as better doctoral level training, institutional incentives such as course redesign funds or release time, and intentional exposure to course delivery models used in other disciplines. Mintz also recommends that institutions celebrate exemplary courses and curricula, share resources, place greater value on teaching contributions, and provide professional development. “Think of teaching less as performance and more as a design, planning, engineering, and architectural challenge,” writes Mintz. Inside Higher Ed (Acct. Req.) Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.