The Chicago Handbook for Teachers: A Practical Guide to the College Classroom

by Alan Brinkley, Betty Dessants, Michael Flamm

Unlike their counterparts on the high school or elementary school level, those who teach college students have extensive training in their various disciplines, but surprisingly little instruction in the craft of teaching itself.

The Chicago Handbook for Teachers is an extraordinarily helpful guide for all those who face the challenge of putting together material for a course and then making it work. Representing teachers at all stages of their careers, the authors, including distinguished historian Alan Brinkley, offer practical advice for almost any situation a new teacher might face, from preparing a syllabus to managing classroom dynamics. Beginning with a nuts and bolts plan for designing a course, the handbook also explains how to lead a discussion, evaluate your own teaching, deliver an effective lecture, supervise students' writing and research, create and grade exams, and more. Other sections address the less straightforward aspects of teaching, such as dealing with "diversity issues" and knowing where to draw the line in relationships with students. Particularly timely is an up-to-date discussion of when and how best to incorporate the Internet and other electronic resources into your teaching.

Indispensable for graduate students and new teachers, The Chicago Handbook for Teachers is also a useful refresher for the experienced professionals.

Genres: Nonfiction, Teaching

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Alan Brinkley was an American political historian who has taught for over 20 years at Columbia University. He was the Allan Nevins Professor of History until his death. From 2003 to 2009, he was University Provost.

Reviews

[Teri Temme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Very practical.

[Matt McCullough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book that provides some important ideas for teachers at all levels, but especially in higher ed. Currently, it may seem out of date but there are still some key points that are useful. Definitely a must read for teachers

[Marianne Kupin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was hired to adjunct at CCAC I was thrilled. I was also terrified. I have very little teaching experience at the collegic level so I wasn't sure where, or how, to begin. I happened to run across this book at the library and it has become an invaluable resource. While I'm still nervous about my very first day of teaching, this text has provided me with all the "odds and ends" of teaching; along with all the details to take into consideration. How do you structure a syllabus? What is the best method of teaching: online, lecture, socratic discussions, or a mixture of the three? All of these things, and more, are within this book. If you are new at the world of college teaching and don't know where to turn then this book is for you.

[Guntar Akhmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bagi dosen pemula, buku ini sangat berguna. Jangankan buat pemula deh, buat dosen senior aja buku ini juga masih bisa berikan manfaat. Buku ini mengulas beragam aspek pengajaran secara luas, mulai dari apa yang dilakukan saat tatap muka pertama, bagaimana mengelola diskusi yang mengandung debat, apakah mengajarnya via catatan atau ingatan, gimana ngoreksi dan memberi penilaian pada penugasan, cara mengevaluasi performa diri sendiri dalam mengajar, dst sampai kiat mendayagunakan teknologi untuk pengajaran. Saya suka Afterword di belakang, tentang mengapa kita mengajar; cukup menyentuh dan jadi reminder bagi pengajar.