Clark Moreland (Photo courtesy of UTPB).
UTPB professors’ new book offers orientation to college teaching
University of Texas Permian Basin professors Clark Moreland and Dr. Jim Olson have released a new book, Eighty Steps: Tales on College Teaching, that aims to serve as somewhat of an orientation to college teaching.
The book gathers reflections and tips from UTPB faculty that can help inform college educators on effective strategies. The book is currently available for purchase on Amazon, and a new grant will provide all new full-time faculty at UTPB with a copy. Also, all book sales will be put into a fund so all future faculty will receive a copy, according to Elida Escarcega, communications & recruitment specialist, who reported on the book launch on the UTPB website.
“The idea for the book came during a student success meeting several years ago,” Escarcega reported. Moreland, a lecturer in English and founding director of the Heimmermann Center for Engaged Teaching, was inspired by s similar concept by the University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers, which released The Little Orange Book: Short Lessons in Excellent Teaching in 2015. He worked on the Eighty Steps: Tales on College Teaching with co-author Olson, professor in Psychology and a “founding faculty” of UTPB.
Their book “includes contributions from the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education faculty at UTPB,” Escarcega’s report states. “Topics include patience and empathy, student sense of belonging, encouragement, and learning from others.”
Moreland, who is set to be inducted into the University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers, said he and Olson believe that “college faculty can become great teachers when given the right support from their community and institution.”
“We also hope that by sharing these teaching tales with faculty at the beginning of their time at UTPB, it will lead to the development of more organic and cross-disciplinary mentoring relationships, not to mention bolstering our faculty retention efforts,” he added.
Purchase Eighty Steps: Tales on College Teaching on Amazon.
