Yale Center for Teaching and Learning

Teaching Excellence at Yale

Teaching Excellence at Yale, previously distributed to all faculty during the academic year, highlighted teaching practices of individual faculty members from across departments and schools, supplemented with relevant research and resources that are available to instructors through the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning.

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Lecturing elegantly and effectively requires a deft balance between raising intellectual stakes for students and speaking in everyday language.
Taking time to replicate the processes of scientific discourse in small groups can transform learning potential in large classes.
Instructors can provide better feedback when they hear frequent recordings of their students’ language development.
When a scientist and a clinician teach together, students are able to “see” the science at work in their future patients.
When a scientist and a clinician teach together, students are able to “see” the science at work in their future patients.
Successfully teaching students to “think like scientists” means teaching them new critical reading skills and providing them with opportunities to practice with peers.
Partially 'flipping' a large lecture class enables faculty to restructure class time to make room for engagement.
Experiential learning creates opportunities for students to understand course concepts from multiple points of view and offers a rewarding environment outside of the classroom
Acting in an immunobiology class increases student engagement and retention of new concepts.
Flexible teaching spaces offer pedagogical advantages: Teaching in CTL classrooms
Classroom polling offers opportunities for active student participation in large classes.
Co-teaching with rare and primary sources benefits student learning.
Case studies help students learn to collaborate while applying knowledge to public issues.
Experiential learning in law clinics fosters critical and social thinking.
Clearly organized courses promote learning through engagement and reflection.
Encouraging bold inquiry helps students become independent thinkers.
Student collaboration promotes social and academic literacy.
Self-reflection helps students engage thoughtfully with peers and content.
Experiential learning engages students in course content.
Dean Marvin Chun increases engagement and prioritizes feedback in a large lecture course.