What I think I’ve learned most over the years is how much of the work of teaching goes into preparation. Each piece — ranging from readings to lecture materials to activities and assignments — needs to built with intentionality. When courses are developed with that level of attention to purpose, I find that I actually provide less information, not more. That’s harder to do than it looks! Opening minds and hearts of all students to the learning enterprise requires us to set up of a safe, structured, and constructive environment.
How do we go about that? There’s no one formula, but it always requires an investment of self, of a commitment to their growth, and helping to make the links and communications that are needed for a deeper experience of the material.
Stephanie Cawton, Educational Psychology