Finding an Academic Job and Working Toward Tenure: Teaching for Success

1
Finding an Academic Job and Working Toward
Tenure Teaching for Success

• Peter Giordano, PhD
• Belmont University
• APS, May 2004, Chicago IL

2
Some General Considerations

• Keep in mind that most academic jobs are not in
  Research I institutions
• Regarding TP, understand the relative importance
  of teaching, research, and service
• Find a good mentor, both on and off campus

3
Finding a Teaching Oriented Position

• Know the culture of the university where you are
  applying
• Put together an appropriate application packet
  (i.e., talk about teaching, not just research)
• Find at least one letter writer who can speak to
  your teaching interests skills

4
Becoming an Effective Teacher

• Ask questions of other faculty
• Read (see list of a few books at end)
• Attend teaching conferences
• Work with your Center for Faculty
  Development/Teaching Excellence
• Do these things for the next 30 years (retire
  when you stop doing them)

5
Becoming an Effective Teaching Professional

• Network at teaching conferences (regional and
  national)
• Review for Teaching of Psychology
• Engage in teaching research and publish it
• Involve yourself in the Society for the Teaching
  of Psychology (STP)

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Some of my Favorite Books

• McKeachie, W. J. (1999). Teaching tips
  Strategies, research, and theory for college and
  university teachers (10th ed.). Boston
  Houghton Mifflin.
• Lowman, J. (1995). Mastering the techniques of
  teaching (2nd ed.). San Francisco Jossey-Bass.
• Leamnson, R. (1999). Thinking about teaching and
  learning Developing habits of learning with
  first year college and university students.
  Sterling, VA Stylus.

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Books (contd)

• Baxter Magolda, M. B. (2001). Making their own
  way Narratives for transforming higher
  education to promote self-development. Sterling,
  VA Stylus.
• Finkel, D. (2000). Teaching With Your Mouth
  Shut. Portsmouth, NH Heinemann.
• Palmer, P. (1998). The courage to teach. San
  Francisco Jossey-Bass.

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Other Teaching Resources

• To review for ToP, contact Dr. Randolph Smith -
  rsmith_at_kennesaw.edu
• To learn about and join STP, go to
  http//teachpsych.lemoyne.edu/
• For teaching portfolio development, read Peter
  Seldins The Teaching Portfolio A Practical
  Guide to Improved Performance and
  Promotion/Tenure Decisions (2004)