Eight Principles Underlying Effective Teaching

1. Motivation Matters

Highly motivated students devote more time to their studies and learn more. One of an instructor's biggest challenges is to boost students' passion to learn.

Students can be motivated extrinsically, especially by grades; or they can be intrinsically motivated, inspired by the enjoyment learning provides or by a feeling of accomplishment. Extrinsic rewards tend to decrease long-term interest in an activity, whereas intrinsic rewards and positive verbal reinforcement stimulate and maintain interest.

One important way to motivate students to learn is to show them why a particular subject is meaningful. But motivation also involves instilling within students a work ethic: teaching them the importance of setting priorities, managing time effectively, developing a thorough understanding of content, doing all the class assignments, and working relentlessly to develop and improve skills, and achieve excellence.

2. Effective Teachers Don't Ramble

Outstanding instructors are well organized. They are focused. They open their classes with a clearly identified problem or topic. Their classes proceed logically. Effective teachers summarize important points, define key concepts, and conclude by reviewing the essential points covered in class.

3. Pedagogical Style Matters Less Than an Instructor's Attitude toward Learning and their Students.

Pedagogical styles vary widely. Some teachers are especially effective lecturers; others are particularly successful as seminar leaders. Some are dramatic; others are laid back. Some are strict and exacting, others are lenient and easygoing. But whatever their differences in style, outstanding instructors tend to share a common attitude toward learning:

• They have high standards and high expectations about what their students are capable of learning;
• They are very enthusiastic about their subject and about teaching;
• They are highly aware of the assumptions and misconceptions that students bring to their class;
• They connect their subject to the "real world." In short, they instill within students a sense that their subject is significant and exciting.

4. Effective Instructors Reject a "Transmission" Model of Education

Mediocre teachers subscribe to a "transmission" model of education, in which a "sage" transmits wisdom to a passive recipient. Outstanding teachers, in contrast, assume a "learning model." They are attentive to students needs, confusions, and interests; they constantly adjust to meet those needs; and respond to students' confusions by adopting new techniques and approaches to help them.

5. Certain Techniques Help Bring Classrooms to Life

Eye contact. Movement around the classroom. Dramatic pauses. A change of pace every ten minutes. A question that calls for a show of hands. The use of "props": illustrations, film clips, music, and other audio-visual resources.

6. Effective Teaching Involves More than Technique: It Engages Students Minds

Effective teaching provokes students, by demonstrating that a particular subject is intriguing and important The instructor stimulates a genuine interest in a subject. Outstanding teachers engage and involve students. Effective teaching also encourages students to think actively and critically, rather than just listening and remembering.

7. Outstanding Teachers Personalize Education

Outstanding instructors create a stimulating environment, bubbling with exciting ideas. They encourage active student participation. They converse with students, rather than cross-examining them. They make their expectations explicit. They provide prompt feedback. They connect with their students and transform the classroom into a community of learners.

8. Effective Teachers Provide Students with Lots of Feedback

Outstanding instructors closely monitor their students' performance, provide timely and constructive feedback, and give them opportunities to act on this feedback.