Customer Reviews

McKeachie's Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers (11E)

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If I could give this book six stars, I would. I was first introduced to an earlier edition of McKeachie's book back in 1992, when I first started teaching as a faculty member at a small school. This new edition is the third one to sit on my shelves, alongside two earlier editions. All three are worth keeping, reading, and re-reading.

What I appreciate most about this book is it's mixture of theory and practical suggestions. When talking about how to make lectures more effective, McKeachie provide a concise review of the most relevant research, then spends time going over specific suggestions for how an instructor can improve his or her lectures. This same approach of providing an overview of the most important research alongside extremely practical suggestions is found in a number of chapters.

Another aspect that I like about this book is that McKeachie has the openness to invite other people to write specific chapters on topics such as technology in teaching, motivation, laboratory instruction. Many of the individuals writing these chapters are recognized nationally for their expertise in various aspects of teaching. So this book isn't just a collection of McKeachie's insights - it provides the wisdom and counsel of nine other individuals.

In my own work as a teacher at a small undergraduate college, it has become absolutely essential for me to re-read this book cover to cover every few years. There are other books that are highly recommended as resources for various aspects of teaching. But _McKeachie's Teaching Tips_ is one of the most balanced, broadest, and best coverages of what is involved in teaching effectively at a college. Get it, read it, reflect on it, and both your teaching and your students' learning will benefit.

Having just finished my first year of teaching undergraduate psychology courses, I would like to confirm the praise of this book written elsewhere. I cannot imagine a better introduction. Twenty seven short and specific chapters make this an easy read and a useful reference. Each chapter ends with annotated recommendations for further study. No wonder Teaching Tip's is on so many bookshelves.

McKeachie is a psychologist, and his personal experience is in teaching the social sciences. His preferred approach is constructivist rather than didactic (he prefers discussion to lectures), and his personal value system (chapter 25) can be sensed in most of his advice. His highest value is love and respect for others within a relativistic framework. He is quite committed to active learning in all its various guises.

In a fragmented discipline like psychology, McKeachie's approach is likely to be quite successful. I wonder if those teaching in disciplines with a higher fixed content will find his advice as useful.

The primary strength of this book is the smooth blend of theory with practical advice. Research-supported theory (learning and memory in chapters 4 and 5, Bloom's taxonomy in chapter 24) is introduced with a light touch that makes it easy to assimilate - often with a "take what you want, leave the rest" attitude. In like fashion, the practical advice (cheating, discussion monopolizers) is not heavy-handed, but suggestive.

I read this book through over a two day period, finding that it bogged down only in Part 5 that focused on teaching in contexts that I am unlikely to encounter in the near future. Twice I found myself revising my typical course syllabus.

Having read a couple of books and articles about teaching during the last years, I happen to find this book from Wilbert J. McKeachie. While reading the first pages, I was immediately fascinated by this book, not only because the author raised all the questions I also would have (setting up courses, refining teaching, solving problems etc.)-but also because McKeachie gave practical solutions to the problems, that all of us face now and then in our teaching. Besides this he (I have to admit that some chapters are written from other colleagues) writes in a very understandable way (compared to Biggs, for those who know this book).
The chapters (in total 27) deal with topics like how to plan a course (what do you have to think about in advance), how to meet a class the first time (most interesting for those that start to teach), how we make the students learn (nowadays we only talk about learner centered teaching), how we make our teaching more effective, how to teach large classes and a lot more useful topics.
For those interested in the theory behind teaching, he explains "new" ways of teaching (PBL, distance learning ....) and latest findings in an informative and understandable way (Blooms Taxonomy etc.).
In my opinion, this book is worthwhile reading for the veterans of teaching and the inexperience teachers embarking on a new start to teach.

This book is an outstanding resource for anyone who has to lecture at the college or university level. Each chapter is a research-based (and experience-based) guide to the key issues that arrise in different instructional environments. For several years, this book was given to all new faculty at my institution (Univ. Washington, Seattle) as part of the orientation process. It is ideal for that purpose, and still holds many useful comments for more experienced instructors, also.

This was a very helpful book. I was given it as a gift when I got my first college teaching job and it answered many of my questions. I especially liked the chapters about advanced class preparation (including a time line) which helped me feel much more prepared for the first day of class. Throughout the semester I used the book to answer questions about situations that happened in class (getting students to participate, cheating, etc.). I definitely recommend this book to any new teacher!

My teaching seminar class required this book and all I can say is that it's a TON of teaching information and suggestions packed into a short little book. The author of this book has been teaching for over 50 years and he has this stuff down. From the first day of class to dealing with problem students to test creation, he covers all the bases in this teeny-tiny text! Very concise and well written; most likely a must have for anyone considering the teaching profession at the college level.

There is a very good reason this book is now on its 11th edition...it is one of the most useful books for anyone teaching in a college. Packed full of good advice and strategies, this is a classic book for faculty development.

I had to buy this textbook for a class I didn't want to take but was required. It was nice buying an inexpensive book that I didn't want.

You could stumble into each class paying as much attention as possible, trying very hard to understand how to become a better teacher, reflecting after class upon what you did well and what you did not do well ... or you could read McKeachie's book and take all of his experience and that of his co-authors into your repertoire of teaching tips.

One could dread reading a book that talks too much about the details and administrative issues that may arise in teaching. One could also dread a book that speaks only about philosophical issues in teaching. One does not need to dread this book because it addresses both practical and philosophical matters but not in excruciating details. It is written by an intelligent group for intelligent readers and yet it is simple prose, not the pretentious academic jargon that I so often encounter.

I loved it and highly recommend it to all PhD students, junior faculty, and faculty teaching others how to teach.