Dr Ken Bain; What the Best College Teachers Do.

From a 15 year study of almost 100 highly effective college teachers, Dr Ken Bain shares the results and insights attained from the study in his book, What the Best College Teachers Do.  He suggests that great teachers know how to:

• ask great questions, 
• encourage learning by doing, making mistakes and trying again, 
• create authentic assessments, 
• challenge student thinking, and 
• hold students to high standards and help them achieve these high standards.  

I am committed to constantly developing my skills and attributes that will empower and assist students in their learning journey.  Some areas that I am focusing my attention on at this time are to improve my abilities to ask great questions and challenging students thinking.  Some ways that encourage and stimulate student thinking and discussion may include asking them to explain a issue or problem, why it exists and possible solutions.  Keep probing students for evidence to support their ideas and allow students to challenge each other. Bain (2004). p.128.  Taking risks and seeing mistakes and or failures as a positive opportunity to grow are also areas of interest to me as they are an uncomfortable place for me to be. 

Bain, K. (2004). What the best college teachers do. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.