Good learning and teaching methods builds a strong foundation for student’s careers. Hence a good way of teaching is essential and becomes inevitable.
Tips and cues for teachers
Try beginning each segment of a class by setting up a problem and explaining why it is interesting and important.
Rather than asking students to memorize a formula, teach them how to derive the formula and identify its parts.
Try the step by step approach to solve problems. Ask small questions along the way so that students can see how the solution is being calculated and can confront similar questions with the same strategy.
Thoughtful discussion questions are a great way to encourage students to do the reading for the class and/or attend lecture.
Focusing on the reading assignments or lecture material is a fine way to prepare students for exams, to review difficult reading assignments, and to encourage students to do their reading assignments and attend lecture meetings.
In preparation for paper assignments ask students to brainstorm on possible topics. Write the topics on the board and refine them as a group. Ask students to develop thesis statement for the topics and provide textual support for their arguments.
Using a volunteer's paper or exam (or a 'faked' example), put excerpts on the overhead projector and brainstorm about its strengths, its weaknesses, and different approaches to the same question.
Begin class by asking students to cast actors for the movie production of a text.
Go over students' homework as a group. Ask students to brainstorm on the next step in solving the equation or the problem. Then ask students to write a step-by-step strategy for answering similar questions when they come up.
