Exemplary Teaching

It is about half way through the Certificate of University Teaching and Learning (CUTL) spring 2012 program at SFU.  On week 7, CUTL had the opportunity to speak to three award winning exemplary teachers at SFU.  Aside from being treated with tea, coffee, pastries, and fresh fruit, it was a joy to round table discussions with each invited guest.  With each round table conversation, it was becoming clear to me as an experienced K-12 teacher that “good teaching” at the university is very similar to “good teaching” in K-12 schools.  On the one hand, it seemed intuitive.  On the other, it was a passion for teaching and learning each guest possessed.  The #1 advice given by one of the guests for “good teaching” was TO BE ORGANIZED.  Other advice included eye contact, knowing student names, engagement, and a good sense of humour.  The biggest difference for me between university teaching compared to K-12 teaching was class size.  Some classes have approximately 500 students with TA’s (teaching assistants) or TM’s (tutor markers).  The comforting thing for me to know was that the teachers I resonated with shared the same beliefs about education as me.  I am the only Faculty of Education graduate student in the Spring 2012 CUTL and I am learning.