Teaching

Over the years I’ve often taught Edward Bellamy’s classic 19th century utopian novel Looking Backward. It’s a blistering critique of Gilded Age America and a creative imagining of a future in which work, social class, gender relations, and the political economy have been radically reconfigured. The novel is provocative and rich in ideas, and its premises spark great debate. What it’s not is a page-turner. Most of the book is an extended lecture interspersed with occasional questions and a contrived (and mawkish) romance.

Rob Weir offers tips on designing final exams.

You should pay attention to what your students say, writes Rob Weir. But you shouldn't take the official reports too seriously.

A new semester means a new round of student requests. Rob Weir knows what to say to students who "need an A."

Just because you care about your students doesn't mean their needs should take over your life, writes Kerry Ann Rockquemore.

Banning the popular Web tool will be ineffective, writes Rob Weir, but you can teach your students how to evaluate information.

When you face crocodile tears or red-faced anger from students frustrated with their grades, stay calm and stick with your standards, writes Rob Weir.

Elizabeth Parfitt offers some advice for those getting ready to lead courses for the first time.

Rob Weir explains how to design a course when you don't have much time.

Samuel Gorovitz describes an approach to teaching graduate students how to grade.