The Chicago Guide to College Science Teaching

A practical guide for teaching STEM-related academic disciplines at the college level.

“In this useful, interesting book, Terry McGlynn offers a field guide to the wonderful wilds of the classroom. This is the book every aspiring or new instructor should have, but so too should seasoned professors. It is extraordinarily useful and, inasmuch as it draws on insights from a broad range of fields, also fascinating. It will be a classic.” —Rob Dunn, professor of applied ecology, North Carolina State University

Higher education is a strange beast. Teaching is a critical skill for scientists in academia, yet one that is barely touched upon in their professional training—despite being a substantial part of their career. This book is a practical guide for anyone teaching STEM-related academic disciplines at the college level, from graduate students teaching lab sections and newly appointed faculty to well-seasoned professors in want of fresh ideas. Terry McGlynn's straightforward, no-nonsense approach avoids off-putting pedagogical jargon and enables instructors to become true ambassadors for science.

For years, McGlynn has been addressing the need for practical and accessible advice for college science teachers through his popular blog Small Pond Science. Now he has gathered this advice as an easy read—one that can be ingested and put to use on short deadline. Readers will learn about topics ranging from creating a syllabus and developing grading rubrics to mastering online teaching and ensuring safety during lab and fieldwork. The book also offers advice on cultivating productive relationships with students, teaching assistants, and colleagues.

“It is the empathy that McGlynn brings to his subject that sets this book apart, for in this test the author, an experienced professor of biology, is first and foremost a teacher of empathy, a rare and precious skill. As instructors, we think we already know the nuts and bolts of how to teach a course, but how should we structure a classroom such that it may foster the empathy required to promote lasting change? We haven’t thought about this enough, but lucky for us, McGlynn has. Every subject covered within this practical guide is grounded in McGlynn’s vision oof a more equitable and compassionate learning environment, and each promises deep benefits for students and teachers alike.” —Hope Jahren, author of Lab Girl and The Story of More