At Youngstown State University excellent teachers are those that, like the best college teachers everywhere, have achieved success in “helping their students learn in ways that made a sustained, substantial, and positive influence on how those students think, act, and feel” (Bain, 2004). Although understanding of instructional efficacy is ever-changing with new information, these Principles of Good Practice in Teaching at Youngstown State University are outlined via the five values below. This document offers a framework for good practices in teaching to help our students learn, persist, and achieve their educational goals. Because academic fields have differing styles of teaching and have various professional goals, there are multiple ways to be an excellent teacher, who has a deep and thoughtful approach, that is consistent with the principles below. These practices may be implemented differently according to class size, modality, and academic discipline. Effective teaching helps students achieve deep learning that they will carry with them. This document is intended to articulate institutional values, and serve as a source of conversation and support of continuous improvement.
TEACH Resource Guides
With the endorsement of the TEACH framework on April 27, 2022 by the Academic Senate, the Institute for Teaching and Learning curated resources around each of the five values of the TEACH framework. Visit any of the links below for related resources, best practices, and examples.
Transparent
The teacher...
- Provides and follows the course syllabus
- Clearly defines grading and attendance policies
- Posts syllabus and grades
- Offers a clear and organized course structure (calendar, consistent expectations)
- Sets expectations for returning student work
- Connects course activities and learning goals
- Explains what success looks like (e.g., gives examples, rubrics)
Evidence-Based
The teacher...
- Uses a variety of student-centered strategies
- Designs instruction to help students see connections to prior understanding
- Helps students apply metacognition to their learning
Aspirational
The teacher...
- Participates in professional development related to teaching and learning
- Stays current in their field of study and its pedagogies
- Reflects on and continuously improves own teaching and materials
- Engages in course/dept. assessment of student learning
- Stays up to date on YSU teaching/classroom policies
Communicative
The teacher...
- Is available during scheduled student support (office) hours
- Effectively presents information, and checks for and responds to student understanding
- Is approachable to students outside the classroom
- Gives regular and meaningful formative feedback
- Is an active listener and open to diverse viewpoints
Humane
The teacher...