Carol There was an original question? :) We did stray a bit, didn't we! Ok, here are a few of my strategies (and I'll also start with a short explanation). I too am tenured, department chair, but also swamped with committee assignments (tenure and promotions, advising task force, etc). And yes that means sometimes I am a) not as prepared as I want or b) distracted by some emergency (or perceived emergency). Here are a few of the things I do
1) I "set-aside" the half-hour before every class - I close my door and I don't answer knocks OR the phone. I just look back over the notes I've prepared (powerpoint, whatever). This is just to focus and I find that no matter how prepared I am I do better if I'm focused rather than, say, going directly from a meeting into the classroom. It isn't easy sometimes but with my colleagues help I can enforce that very consistently. 2) If I'm just not ready or not feeling that I am- I get out one of the exercises books like Benjamin's "Favorite Activities" or the APA Activities series. I might peruse the OTRP teach resources (http://teachpsych.org/otrp/resources/resources.php?category=Research%20and%20Teaching) and/or the APS teaching resources (http://psych.hanover.edu/APS/teaching.html) There are others. My thinking here is based on how I write. I generally read something that is well written before I write so I think going to something "well taught" is more likely to spur me on to doing something of higher quality for the class. :) Ok. Truth is I'm a ham. And I generally have the benefit of teaching courses that I'm most prepared for which likely minimizes the harm if I'm not so prepared (which I do try to minimize!). So I'm pretty good at working from the textbook or a powerpoint and delivering a workable lecture even if I wasn't "on" or as prepared as I'd optimally want to be. Hope that helps. Tim _________________________________________________________________ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Professor and Chairperson of Psychology The College of Idaho 2112 Cleveland Blvd Caldwell, ID 83605 teaching: Bio and neuropsychology, history and systems, general, psychopharmacology [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=1096 or send a blank email to leave-1096-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
