Frontiers in Services:
Designing and Teaching the Undergraduate
Course
Renée A. FlorsheimLoyola Marymount University
Target Publics: Whom Do You Need to
Satisfy?o Yourself
o Your students
o Your colleagues
o Assessing bodies (university, AACSB)
Unique Nature
o Remember that you are not teaching a doctoral seminar – your purpose is completely different.
Caveats
o Every instructor is different
o Every institution is different
o Every course is different
o Every section is different
o Every student is different
o Teaching is almost never one-size-fits-all!
Strategic Course Planning
o Don’t fall into the student trap of being seduced by cool tactics.
o A course needs goals/objectives
o A course needs direction
o A course needs shape
o A course needs organization
o A course needs flexibility
Holistic Course Planning
o Look at the pattern of learning over the whole course
o at which points do concepts come together?o at which points do you need to reinforce or
summarize?o at which points do you need to assess?o at which points do you need to stimulate or lay
off?
Do Your Homework
o Ask to see the evaluation form(s)
o Ask your colleagues or Chair about grading expectations
o Ask about the students
o Ask to observe a “good” class
Putting the Course Together
o Plan an order that makes sense for you
o Don’t let a textbook dictate your life!
o Remember that students are taking other classes; don’t be oblivious to their pressures
o Be flexible, but don’t bend to every request
More Classroom Tips
o Develop scary skills (public speaking, writing) slowly. Offer help.
o Invite discussion and comments
o Watch criticism; they take it personally!
o Using varied explanations discourages memorization
Finally…
Have fun!