Finding time for professional development focused on teaching and learning is challenging for many OSU instructional faculty. Sometimes teaching-related programs may even be scheduled at the exact same times that you’re teaching. What to do? For professional development on your own schedule, the staff of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) recommends some great books that offer evidence-based pedagogical strategies, examples and tips to enhance your teaching:
- Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning by James Lang. This 2016 classic and the 2021 second edition are recommended by Brooke O’Brien, director for new initiatives, and Funmi Amobi, instructional consultant and college liaison. Brooke recommends Small Teaching both for new(er) and seasoned instructors, and notes, “I love how it offers simple, research-backed strategies to make meaningful changes that enhance learning without requiring major shifts to teaching practices.” Funmi calls Small Teaching her “all-time favorite” and points out that Lang’s approach “focuses on small, structured, and incremental teaching interventions that university teachers can apply to revitalize their teaching and support student learning success.” Funmi goes on to say that the 20-minute CTL Sparkshops she facilitates for OSU faculty draw from the small teaching approach.
- A Pedagogy of Kindness (2024) by Catherine J. Denial is the choice of Kara Clevinger, assistant director of pedagogical support and development. In Kara’s words, this book “centers compassion, trust, and student agency in our work to create equitable and rigorous learning environments. She weaves together research, her teaching journey, practical strategies, and examples on how to bring compassion to our syllabi, assessments, class activities, and selves.” What’s more, Kara notes that it’s short enough to read in one sitting!
- Ashley Holmes, associate vice provost for teaching and learning, observes that it’s too tough to choose only one favorite book about teaching. So she recommends two books: John Dewey’s Experience and Education (1938), which “deeply informs all of my values in teaching and learning” and a more contemporary favorite, Peter Felten and Leo Lambert’s Relationship-Rich Education: How Human Connections Drive Success in College (2020).
- Cheridy Aduviri, assistant director of the CTL fellows program, offers Radical Hope: A Teaching Manifesto (2020) by Kevin Gannon. She says, “Gannon thoughtfully draws from Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy and the concept of praxis to urge educators toward transformative teaching.” Cheridy notes that each chapter concludes with an Into Practice section featuring practical questions with application of key concepts.”
- Cub Kahn, digital learning consultant for CTL and Ecampus suggests, Susan Hrach’s Minding Bodies: How Physical Space, Sensation and Movement Affect Learning (2021). Hrach challenges educators to rethink the traditional “stay seated” approach to learning. Minding Bodies calls out the shortcomings of treating students as if they were “brains on sticks,” and offers practical strategies to leverage the benefits of bringing sensory perception, movement, and physical space into learning across the curriculum.
What are your favorite books about teaching and learning? Let us know. Happy reading!
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