Remembering Ken Bain

Ken Bain's "What the Best College Teachers Do" explores the teaching practices of highly effective college instructors. The book delves into the key elements that contribute to successful teaching, including creating a strong sense of community in the classroom, fostering intellectual engagement, and providing students with opportunities for deep learning. Bain emphasizes the importance of clear communication, thoughtful assessment, and a genuine passion for teaching. The book offers practical advice and insights for college teachers seeking to improve their instruction and enhance student learning. It serves as a valuable resource for educators at all levels, promoting a more student-centered and intellectually stimulating learning environment.

Teachers are familiar with creating a course syllabus and developing learning objectives. Dr. Lang posits that these skills can help create a book for audiences outside one’s subject matter expertise. He provides insight into the technical aspects of writing, including organization, writing style, and revision. By providing writing prompts at the end of each chapter, Dr. Lang provides the prospective author the opportunity to immediately begin his/her/their own writing journey. The book concludes with an appendix that provides a behind the scenes look at the publishing process.