Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Teaching (FBG)

Fall 2023 | Meeting 3

Nov 02, 2023 [ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR]
1:00pm-2:00pm
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A freshly updated edition featuring research-based teaching techniques that faculty in any discipline can easily implement.

Research into how we learn can help facilitate better student learning―if we know how to apply it. Small Teaching fills the gap in higher education literature between the primary research in cognitive theory and the classroom environment. In this book, James Lang presents a strategy for improving student learning with a series of small but powerful changes that make a big difference―many of which can be put into practice in a single class period. These are simple interventions that can be integrated into pre-existing techniques, along with clear descriptions of how to do so. Inside, you’ll find brief classroom or online learning activities, one-time interventions, and small modifications in course design or student communication. These small tweaks will bring your classroom into alignment with the latest evidence in cognitive research.

Each chapter introduces a basic concept in cognitive research that has implications for classroom teaching, explains the rationale for offering it within a specific time period in a typical class, and then provides concrete examples of how this intervention has been used or could be used by faculty in a variety of disciplines. The second edition features revised and updated content, including a newly authored preface, new examples and techniques, updated research, and updated resources.

  • How can you make small tweaks to your teaching to bring the latest cognitive science into the classroom?
  • How can you help students become good at retrieving knowledge from memory?
  • How does making predictions now help us learn in the future?
  • How can you build community in the classroom?

Higher education faculty and administrators, as well as K-12 teachers and teacher trainers, will love the easy-to-implement, evidence-based techniques in Small Teaching.

Want to propose a workshop topic related to teaching and professional development? Please share your genius with us and fill out the LT&ITC workshop proposal form. We're looking for a variety of interesting and diverse topics -- please help! 

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If you're looking for some just-in-time training or want to dig a little deeper into a specific topic of interest, MTSU subscribes to both Teaching Professor ("reflects the changing needs of today's college faculty and the students they teach") and Academic Leader ("reflects the evolving needs of academic deans, department chairs and heads, program directors, and others with leadership responsibilities") online publications. If attempting to access either publication off-campus, you'll be asked to enter your MTSU credentials.

If you have an idea for a potential future workshop, please feel free to send your suggestions to Dr. Lando Carter.