Teaching College-Level Science and Engineering

Stepping into a college classroom as an instructor requires more than subject-matter expertise; it demands a deep understanding of how students actually learn. This comprehensive, text-based course equips aspiring and early-career educators with the foundational teaching principles needed to succeed in higher education. You will transition from a subject expert to an effective facilitator of scientific and engineering knowledge. Through clear explanations and practical design frameworks, you will learn how to structure lectures, facilitate active learning, and assess student understanding objectively. We also explore modern educational requirements, including digital accessibility standards and inclusive teaching practices that support diverse learner populations in STEM. What you'll learn: - Understand the core cognitive science principles behind how students acquire and retain complex technical knowledge - Design structured course syllabi and lesson plans using backward design principles - Apply active learning strategies to keep students engaged during lectures and recitations - Create fair, transparent assessment rubrics and exams that accurately measure student performance - Implement inclusive teaching practices and digital accessibility standards in your course materials - Manage classroom dynamics and facilitate productive group problem-solving sessions This course begins with foundational educational psychology and core teaching terminology before moving into practical lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment design. You will read real-world scenarios, analyze sample course structures, and complete reflective exercises to build your own teaching portfolio. This course is designed for graduate students, postdocs, and new faculty members in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who have little to no formal training in pedagogy. No prior teaching experience is required. Start reading today to build the confidence and skills necessary to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.