Teaching Basics Overview
Whether you're new to CSUF, new to teaching, or are experienced but are preparing a new course, take a few moments to review these important fundamentals.
DETAILS
1. Your Syllabus
Make sure your syllabus contains all the required components outlined in UPS 300.004
and is accessible. There are several relevant aids provided on CSUF's Academic Programs' Course Development page under the Creating A Syllabus heading. Consider using the following from that page:
- Syllabus Template
- This template aligns with UPS 300.004
and the other UPS that govern general education (411.200
, 411.202
, 411.203
), online (411.104
), and hybrid classes. Download the template and modify the sample text to reflect your expectations and those of your department.
- University Policy requires faculty to inform students regarding important student policies. This template includes links to these policies.
- This template aligns with UPS 300.004
- Syllabus Checklist
- Verify your syllabus has all elements required in UPS 300.004
using this checklist.
- Verify your syllabus has all elements required in UPS 300.004
- Creating Accessible Tables
Other useful resources include:
Next steps:
- Learn about library resources you can incorporate in your class.
- Check how well your learning objectives reflect various levels of Bloom's taxonomy.
- Include a graphic syllabus to show students relationsips between your course topics.
- Explore some Creative Approaches to the Syllabus.
2. The First Day
Review your official roster.
3. Formative Assessment
Plan to use a few brief, low-stakes assessment strategies to see what your students do and don't yet understand, and to engage them in reflecting on their own learning. To get started, read a concise introduction to formative assessment
or review examples of a few popular
Classroom Assessment Techniques
(CATs). Then plan how you'll share what you learned through the CATs with your students.
4. Early Student Feedback
Get student feedback
early in the semester to understand your students' needs and adjust your approach to teaching if needed. The Self Reflection and Anonymous Feedback Surveys in Canvas video
from the FDC YouTube Channel
explains how to create different types of surveys in CSUF's learning management system Canvas.
5. Have a Teaching Problem?
Contact the FDC at fdc@fullerton.edu or use this interactive online problem solver.
