The Chicago Guide to College Science Teaching - (Chicago Guides to Academic Life) by Terry McGlynn (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Teaching is a critical skill for scientists in the academy but one that is hardly emphasized in their professional training. And much of the information that exists about teaching and learning is so full of offputting pedagogical jargon that science teachers can't or won't read it. For years Terry McGlynn has been addressing the need for practical and accessible advice for college science teachers through his blog Small Pond Science, and now he has gathered this advice into a short book. After an introductory chapter about the general principles that teachers should consider in their approach to the classroom, the book covers practical topics ranging from creating a syllabus and developing grading rubrics to mastering learning management systems and ensuring safety during lab and fieldwork. It also offers advice on cultivating productive relationships with students, teaching assistants, and departmental colleagues. Although aimed primarily at those just beginning their careers across the full spectrum of STEM disciplines, McGlynn's advice will also reinvigorate many teachers who have been working in the classroom for years without this kind of pedagogical training"--

Book Synopsis

Higher education is a strange beast. Teaching is a critical skill for scientists in academia, yet one that is barely touched upon in their professional training-despite being a substantial part of their career. This book is a practical guide for anyone teaching STEM-related academic disciplines at the college level, from graduate students teaching lab sections and newly appointed faculty to well-seasoned professors in want of fresh ideas. Terry McGlynn's straightforward, no-nonsense approach avoids off-putting pedagogical jargon and enables instructors to become true ambassadors for science.

For years, McGlynn has been addressing the need for practical and accessible advice for college science teachers through his popular blog Small Pond Science. Now he has gathered this advice as an easy read-one that can be ingested and put to use on short deadline. Readers will learn about topics ranging from creating a syllabus and developing grading rubrics to mastering online teaching and ensuring safety during lab and fieldwork. The book also offers advice on cultivating productive relationships with students, teaching assistants, and colleagues.

Review Quotes

"Smart, thoughtful, and practical."-- "Quarterly Review of Biology"

"I love field guides. In this useful, interesting book, Terry McGlynn offers a field guide to the wonderful wilds of the classroom. This is the book every aspiring or new instructor should have, but so too seasoned professors. It is extraordinarily useful, but in as much as it draws on insights from a broad range of fields, also fascinating. It will be a classic."
--Rob Dunn, Professor of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University

"It is the empathy that McGlynn brings to his subject that sets his book apart, for McGlynn, an experienced professor of Biology, is first and foremost a teacher of empathy in this text, a rare and precious skill. As instructors, we think we already know the nuts and bolts of how to teach a course, but how to structure a classroom such that it may foster the empathy required to promote lasting change? We haven't thought about this enough, but lucky for us, McGlynn has. Every subject covered within this 'Practical Guide' is grounded in McGlynn's vision of a more equitable and compassionate learning environment and promises deep benefits for students and teachers alike."--Hope Jahren, Author of Lab Girl and The Story of More

"Many of us find ourselves in front of a university classroom with little formal training in how to be effective instructors or how to mentor diverse populations of undergraduates. McGlynn's book is the resource so many of us have been waiting for. It is practical, informative, and full of helpful tips. Whether you are new to college instruction or a seasoned professor you are certain to discover tools that will improve your science teaching."--Corrie Moreau, Professor and Collection Curator, Cornell University Dept. of Entomology

"This won't be the only book in your teaching and learning collection, but it's a great first book to set the tone and seed the bookshelf. The guide provides a clear orientation to respectful, empathetic, and effective teaching; for me, it will prompt some updates to my syllabus and reinvigorate my efforts to be familiar with the scholarship of teaching. If it has this effect on all new instructors who read it, the true benefit will accrue to the students who will learn the sciences in courses that trend toward lower anxiety and higher engagement. Although the text will be most useful to new instructors--graduate students and early-career faculty--even established professors will likely find refreshing perspectives and ideas."-- "American Entomologist"

"The teaching book I've always needed."-- "Scientist Sees Squirrel blog"

About the Author

Terry McGlynn is professor of biology at California State University Dominguez Hills and research associate in the Department of Entomology in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. He is the author of the academic blog Small Pond Science and is a regular contributor to the Chronicle of Higher Education.