Leaving the Lectern: Cooperative Learning and the Critical First Days of Students Working in Groups

By Dean A. McManus

Book Overview

This book records the story of how one professor at a research university used a form of active learning to change the way he taught--from traditional lecture and examinations to cooperative learning and student projects. Drawn from teaching notes, conversations with students, student evaluations, and annual reports, readers will learn the kinds of risks, assumptions, and decisions they will face as they change their teaching to emphasize student learning, particularly during the critical first days of change. Engagingly written, Leaving the Lectern offers an honest and insightful look at the challenges and rewards of achieving change in the classroom. This book Motivates faculty and graduate students to visualize what changing their teaching to enhance student learning will be like by illustrating through narration how a professor much like them made the change Provides reflective questions at the end of each chapter to help readers use the information in the chapter Enhances the reader's preparation for the change by citing references to pedagogical precepts, strategies, and tools Summarizes the seven themes found in the book to help bring about the change: accept risk; use feedback; reflect; adapt and be flexible; establish a partnership; accept that you are teaching in a different world; welcome the joy

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1882982851
• ISBN13: 9781882982851
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Formula for better teaching!

As a professor, have you ever had a student fall asleep during one of your lectures? dreaded those student evaluations of your course at the semester's end? been tied for last place for your department's Best Teacher Award? If you answered "yes" to any (or all) of these questions, you should read this book. In this well-written softcover McManus shares his journey of enlightenment, personal growth, and self-discovery as he discards his hallowed (but lethal) lectures in favor of cooperative learning and student projects. After the change the students agreed, "That was the best course we ever took." Furthermore, the students learned how to analyze and integrate facts, think on their feet, work in small groups, and write technical papers. This book tells you how to do it, the personal commitment required, and the satisfying rewards that await anyone with the dedication, self-esteem, and courage to leave the lectern.

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