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Teaching a course at any level requires knowledge, authority and the ability to anticipate and answer questions. Your students will expect to learn things they did not know, and to attain the tools necessary to continue learning in whatever subject you are teaching. You may be teaching in front of a few students, in a large lecture hall or online. Prepare to teach a course by developing a syllabus, gathering materials and making a lesson plan.

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Steps

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    Establish your goals for the course. These should include broad as well as specific goals that include what you want your students to learn and how you want to see them use their knowledge.
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    Prepare an introduction. Your students will want to know a little bit about you.
    • Provide a written biography, or make some notes about your educational background and professional experience. Include the number of years you have been teaching and other courses you have taught.
    • Share your contact information. Make sure your students know how and when to reach you. Give them your email address, phone number and any office hours you keep.
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    Prepare an introduction to the course. A brief summary of what will be studied and discussed will help your students anticipate what they will learn.
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    Write a syllabus. The syllabus is your plan for the course and acts as an agenda or an outline for the duration of the class.
    • Assign specific topics and assignments to each class meeting. Provide deadlines for assignments and dates of tests and quizzes.
    • Be ready to review the syllabus with your students so you can answer any questions they might have about it.
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    Share expectations. You will need to communicate what you expect from your students. This includes class participation, timely completion of assignments and academic honesty and integrity.
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    Talk to other faculty who have taught this course or a similar course. It can be helpful to get input from other teachers, especially if you have never taught this course before.
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    Assemble all of the course materials you will need to teach. These should include textbooks, handouts, readings, exams and your own notes.
    • Review the materials to determine the best way to present them.
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    Prepare a lesson plan. Make notes and discussion topics for each class meeting based on the syllabus and anything covered in previous classes. Always show up to class prepared.
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    Get an idea of who your students will be. Try to gauge their level of understanding as it pertains to the course subject.
    • Have your students fill out a brief survey about classes they have taken previously, or ask that prerequisites be taken before your course is begun.
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    Stay in touch with your students, especially if you are teaching an online course. Use email and online chat in order to follow up with assignments or answer questions.
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Tips

  • Practice your lectures and lessons in front of a mirror. This will give you an idea of how your students will see you while you teach.
  • Stay up to date with the latest teaching methods and developments in education. Teaching associations and groups often provide newsletters and other resources for instructors.

Things You'll Need

  • Syllabus
  • Lesson plan
  • Course materials

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Sources and Citations

Article Info

Categories: Teaching

In other languages:

Español: prepararse para enseñar un curso, Português: Se Preparar para Ministrar um Curso

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