There are a number of books focused on the craft of college-level teaching. However, the vast majority of those books are tailored to tenure-track faculty. A number of specialty books also have been published, including texts on balancing teaching and research, techniques for teaching certain types of students (e.g., first-generation), and techniques for teaching for certain types of instructors (e.g., African-American women). Online resources are available, but locating material can be time-consuming. The target audience for The Essentials of College Teaching: A Guide for New and Adjunct College Instructors are adjunct (non tenure-track) instructors. Adjuncts now constitute 76.4 % of U.S. faculty across all institutional types, with a staggering 80% at two-year institutions. Although teaching a heavy load, adjuncts are not typically included in on-campus professional development opportunities to improve their teaching skills. This book would be particularly helpful for first time or relatively novice college-level instructors, including doctoral graduate students teaching their first sections, new community college instructors, and new four-year college and university instructors. It's designed to get novice instructors through their first term, nerves intact and students satisfied. Recommendations are based on empirically supported best practices for teaching, while aiming for a concise, slightly irreverent, occasionally humorous style of writing.
Constance Jones earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and her Ph.D. in human development and family studies from The Pennsylvania State University. She joined the faculty in the Department of Psychology at California State University, Fresno in 1993. Constance (aka "Mama Jones" to her graduate students) served as Chair of the Department for almost 10 years, allowing her to add others' stories of teaching successes and mishaps to her own personal repertoire.
Chapter 1: The Syllabus Chapter 2: Instructor Presentation Chapter 3: Assessment Chapter 4: Class Management Chapter 5: Teaching Tips for the Terrified or Otherwise Unwell Chapter 6: The Syllabus Supplement Chapter 7: Instructor Presentation Supplement Chapter 8: Assessment Supplement Chapter 9: Class Management Supplement Chapter 10: Teaching Tips for the Terrified or Otherwise Unwell Supplement Chapter 11: Instructor Checklist Chapter 12: Instructor Bingo Sheet
