Teaching Resources

Books on Teaching

Get help using 'Books on Teaching'

General Teaching "How To" Books

Linda B. Nilson. Teaching at its Best. 3rd edition . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2010.
A comprehensive resource that focuses on basic teaching methods.
 
Linda B. Nilson. Creating Self-Regulated Learners - Strategies to Strengthen Students' Self-Awareness and Learning Skills. Sterling, VA: Stylus Pub; 2013.
A useful resource that offers practical advice on how to guide students to take ownership of their own learning.   
 
Maryellen Weimer. Learner-Centered Teaching - Five key Changes to Practice. 2nd edit. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2013.  
A practical approach to applying sound teaching methods that have been validated through educational research.
 
Marilla Svinicki and Wilbert J. McKeachie, eds. Teaching Tips - Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers. 13th edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2011.
A comprehensive resource that focuses on basic teaching methods.
 
Ken Bain. What the Best College Teachers Do . Cambridge, MA:Harvard University Press; 2004.
Findings of a 15-year study of techniques used by outstanding teachers in higher education.
 
Susan Ambrose, et al. How Learning Works - 7 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching .  San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & S ons; 2010.
A comprehensive review of educational literature that distills the findings down to practical teaching methods built around 7 basic principles.
 
Doug Lemov. Teach Like a Champion - 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons; 2010.
Written from a K-12 perspective, this is an in-depth, pactical review of specific techniques that successful charter school teachers are employing to achieve success with elementary and high school students.  

Christian Higher Education

 

Amy Lynn Dee and Gary Tiffin, eds.   Faithful Education - Themes and Values for Teaching, Learning, and Leading.   Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2012.
A practical guide for faculty seeking to enhance faith engagement in the classroom, with clear explanations and useful examples.
 
 
David I. Smith and James K. Smith. Teaching and Christian Practices – Reshaping Faith and Learning. Grand Rapids, MI: William B . Eerdmans Pub.; 2011.

A compendium of examples of teachers having implemented Christian practices in the classroom.

 

T odd C. Ream, Jerry Pattengate and David L. Riggs, eds. Beyond Integration? Interdisciplinary Possibilities for the Future of Higher Education. Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press; 2012.

Insights of faculty from a variety of disciplines exploring Christian educational practices that go beyond “faith integration” to emphasize cultural a nd spiritual influences rather than a more “intellectual” approach to faith integration.

 

Philip W. Eaton. Engaging the Culture, Changing the World – the Christian University in a Post-Christian World. Downers grove, IL: IVP Academic; 2011.

Provides an insightful exploration into the challenges facing Christian Higher Education in today’s increasingly secular environment.

 

Thomas Chesnes, eds. The Christian College Phenomenon – Inside America’s Fastest Growing Institutions of Higher Learning .  Abilene, TX: Abilene Christina University Press; 2012.

Two PBA faculty conducted a survey that was completed by roughly 1900 faculty from 95 CCCU schools and 2400 students from 19 CCCU schools. The survey covered a wide range of issues pertaining to Christian higher education. Results were assessed by 29 faculty contributors.

 

Arthur F. Holmes. The Idea of a Christian College. Revised edition . Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub.; 1987.

A short, but effective rationale for liberal arts education and Christian higher education.

 

Teaching Philosophies

Parker J. Palmer. The Courage to Teach – Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 1998.

A classic work on the importance of one’s identity as a teacher as opposed to one’s technique, and the need to connect with students in order impact them.

 

John Tagg. The Learning Paradigm College . San Francisco: Anker Pub.; 2003.

A call for innovation in higher education with a stronger focus on developing new educational systems that promote deeper levels of learning.

 

Donald L. Finkel. Teaching with Your Mouth Shut . Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook Pub.; 2000.

Not to be taken literally, the title suggests Finkel’s emphasis the need to pursue engaged, student-centered learning.

Team-Based Learning

Sweet M, Michaelsen LK, eds. Team-Based Learning in the Social Sciences and Humanities – Group Work That Works to Generate Critical Thinking and Engagement. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing; 2012.
The most recent book on TBL illustrates that the method can be applied effectively in social sciences and humanities.
 
Michaelsen LK, Sweet M, Parmlee DX, eds. Team-Based Learning: Small Group Learning’s Next Big Step. San Francisco: Jossey Bass; 2008.
This book clarifies some of the key principles behind TBL.
 
Michaelsen LK, Parmlee DX, McMahon KK, Levine RE, eds. Team-Based Learning for Health Professions Education – A Guide to Using Small Groups for Improving Learning. Sterling. VA: Stylus Publishing; 2008.
This book focuses on the health professions, which have seen a dramatic rise in the use of TBL.
 
Michaelsen LK, Knight AB, Fink LD, eds. Team-Based Learning – A Transformative Use of Small Groups in College Teaching. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing; 2004.
The original book publication on TBL.

Active Learning - Engaged Learning

Barbara J. Millis, ed. Cooperative Learning in Higher Education . Sterling, VA: Stylus Pub.; 2010.

Cooperative learning is a broad term describing a variety of active learning methods. The purpose is to engage students with the instructor and peers, to ensure that learning is student-centered and interdependent. It can include group work, but is not a structured as team-based learning.

 

Elizabeth F. Barkley. Student Engagement Techniques - A Handbook for College Faculty. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass;2010.
This is a comprehensive compilation of teaching methods designed to engage students in learning. 
 

L. Dee Fink . Creating Significant Learning Experiences – An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2003. 

This book is a comprehensive discussion of how to carefully plan a course around well-defined set of learning outcomes, and then strategically match the content, methods and assessment to those outcomes, such that significant learning takes place.

 

Christine A. Stanley and M. Erin Porter, eds. Engaging Large Classes – Strategies and Techniques for College Faculty . Bolton, MA: Anker Pub; 2002.

Contributors from a variety of disciplines describe how they integrate active learning in large classes.