Transforming Traditional Teaching for Today's College Students: Strategies for Cultivating Relationships and Community

by Amy Driscoll, Dan Shapiro

Overview

By giving students a greater voice in how their learning is facilitated, this book offers a fresh spin on classic college teaching methods.

Seasoned faculty developers Driscoll and Shapiro cover seven common teaching approaches and how they can be leveraged to support the development of students as co-teachers. The easily digestible, practical strategies throughout each chapter pair powerfully with candid case studies. Readers are able to witness firsthand the uncertainties, disappointments, and successes of the post-pandemic classroom as faculty and students work together to overcome challenges and form deep connections.  

While an indispensable resource for those new to teaching, this book also serves as an innovative tool for experienced instructors and educational developers alike, imparting guidance that will result in more meaningful interactions, stronger relationships, and a genuine sense of community in the college classroom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032581576
Publisher:	Taylor & Franics
Publication date:	01/20/2025
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Amy Driscoll designed and was the founding director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, which focused on faculty development at California State University, Monterey Bay, USA. She has a doctorate in education and has taught courses and workshops for teachers locally and internationally.

Dan Shapiro is Professor of Environmental Studies and served as Director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment at California State University, Monterey Bay, USA, where he focused on teaching, learning and faculty development.

Table of Contents

1. Listening to Our Readers: Descriptions of Their Teaching  2. The Courage to Teach Again: Students Have Changed, and So Have I!  3. Students as Our Lecturing Partners: Expanding Our Learning  4. Discussion and Question/Answer: Pedagogical Partners for Enhanced Learning  5. Oral Presentations: Normalizing Presentation Anxiety and Inclusive Public Speaking Pedagogy  6. Group Work and Collaboration: Learning Together  7. One-Minute Reflection Papers: The Teaching Innovation that Swamps All Others  8. Feedback for Students and Teachers: A Powerful Pedagogy

Editorial Reviews

"Transforming Traditional Teaching for Today’s College Students is a compelling and insightful read that offers practical strategies to create student-centered learning environments. The book provides inspiring examples and actionable steps to cultivate communities and relationships in the classroom, making it a valuable resource for any educator looking to adapt their teaching methods to better engage today’s diverse student population."

Mac Powell, President, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, California, USA

"Playing it safe with traditional, faculty-centered lectures won’t restore learning and community lost during the pandemic, and it won’t close equity gaps in our classrooms and institutions. Taking the chance to share responsibility for learning with students will. Driscoll and Shapiro illustrate why we must and show us how we can. They have created a book for faculty seeking to reconnect with undergraduate students and reinvigorate learning with them. This book will help you explain who you are and why you are, and how to share your power and responsibility for learning—with today’s students."

Emily Magruder, Director, Innovative Teaching and Future Faculty Development, Office of the Chancellor, California State University, USA

"Learning happens in relationships is the compelling current that flows through Driscoll and Shapiro’s beautifully written narrative. Here, phenomenal educators share inspired and inspiring practices, all through the lens of partnerships with and learning from our students. I worked with the authors for my entire career and I learned so much from their book."

Swarup Wood, President of Mt. Madonna Institute, USA, and Retired Professor of Chemistry, California State University, Monterey Bay, USA

"I wish someone had handed me this book 35 years ago when I began my teaching career. The authors have created a narrative of rich insights and experiences from faculty they interviewed and from their students. Beyond the ready-to-adopt practical solutions for lecturing, group work, giving feedback and much more, Driscoll and Shapiro challenge faculty to engage in critical reflection and teaching with courage. They are urged to engage with processes that give rise to inviting students to build community and engage in truly transformed experiences."

Carole Huston, Professor of Communication, Special Assistant, Academic Effectiveness and Institutional Research, University of San Diego, USA

"Transforming Traditional Teaching for Today’s College Students is filled with honest stories that many educators can relate to, coupled with invaluable insights for creation of engaging student-centered classrooms. Perfect for instructors at all levels, this resource provides inspiring ideas to infuse community and connection at a time when we all need them the most."

Rebecca G. Hong, Vice Provost, Student Success, Inclusive Excellence, and Curricular Innovation, University of San Francisco, USA

From the Publisher