Good Practice Communicates High Expectations Gretchen Adams LAS Teaching Academy Workshop November 6, 2015

Expectations What do you think is the difference between expectations and high expectations? Why should teachers have high expectations for their students? How do you communicate your expectations to your students?

Implementation Ideas Make your expectations clear at the beginning of the course both in writing and orally. Tell them you expect them to work hard. Tell them why!

Implementation Ideas Set up study guidelines.

Understand Your Audience: Example Average Math ACT Chemistry 101 students = 26 Chemistry 102 students = 31 Average Chemistry Placement Chemistry 101 students = 9 Chemistry 102 students = 19

Understand Your Audience: Example Largest percentage of underrepresented students in our department's courses (40% minorities; 66% female) High risk for dropping out of STEM majors ACT scores of my minority students are lower than their counterparts 33% of my students are first-generation students Only 2% of my students are declared chemistry, chemical engineering, or biochemistry majors

What Does This Mean? SUCCESS!!

Implementation Ideas Encourage students to write.

Implementation Ideas Periodically discuss how well the class is doing during the course of the semester.

Implementation Ideas Be energized and enthusiastic in your interaction with students.

Worth the Effort Assessments show: Students that place into and participate in Introductory Chemistry before enrolling in our mainstream General Chemistry I course earn at least one full letter grade higher versus those that place into Introductory Chemistry and do not participate.

Worth the Effort Since 2004, made the ICES List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students every semester Remember: This course is NOT known to be easy Set high expectations BUT I provide the path on how to get there

Questions?