Center for Excellence in TeachingWelcome to the USC Teaching Community!
Starting to teach in a new place can feel like a lot to take on, but you don’t have to do it alone! We’re here to help you jumpstart your teaching with the New Faculty Toolkit, a practical starting point for designing and teaching courses with confidence and intention. The resources here focus on the fundamentals of effective teaching, including thoughtful course design, active learning, meaningful assessment, and building a collaborative classroom community, while also offering guidance on key USC policies and instructional decisions. You can use these materials as needed, whether you are preparing your first course or refining one over time.
Note: Written resources download to your electronic device.
Writing Learning Objectives
This written resource provides guidance on writing specific and measurable learning objectives that articulate what students should know and be able to do by the end of your course or unit. It helps you align objectives with course activities and assessments so your teaching choices are intentional, transparent, and focused on student learning.
Assignments
This written resource offers support on designing assignments that align with your learning objectives and support meaningful student learning. It outlines strategies for creating clear, purposeful assignments that encourage engagement and provide useful feedback on performance.
Active Learning
This written resource provides a practical introduction to active learning strategies that promote student engagement and deeper understanding during class time. It offers practical examples and advice for selecting and adapting activities that align with your learning goals and work in a range of teaching contexts.
Facilitating Academic Discussions
This written resource provides support for planning and leading academic discussions that help students engage with course ideas and with one another. It offers strategies for setting expectations, structuring discussions, and creating an inclusive environment where students feel prepared to participate.
USC Syllabus Template
This editable syllabus template reflects the most current USC guidelines and is suggested for faculty use; please check with your school or program to see if a customized template is already provided.
Faculty Decision Guide
A quick-reference tool to help faculty respond effectively to common student situations. For each scenario, the guide outlines the required steps and recommended actions for appropriate student support.
Core Principles of Instruction
A 10 minute video on foundational teaching principles, including course design, learning objectives, course alignment, assessment, and lesson structure.
Want more? CET is here for you!
CET offers complimentary, personalized consultations for all USC faculty—across disciplines, campuses, and teaching modalities. Learn more about and request a consultation here.