The ten finalists for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's annual Professor of the Year award are listed. Their descriptions of the teacher who most influenced them during their undergraduate years, and the reasons, are presented. (MSE)

This introduction to a special issue on using consultants to improve teaching in higher education considers the origins and rationale for instructional consulting, raises some questions about the conceptual underpinnings for consulting practice, examines who offers and who sells consultation, and urges training in consultation skills and greater…

Proposes a conceptual framework for consultation on teaching at the higher education level that includes four critical components of instructional consultation: (1) access (informing and encouraging potential users); (2) focus (the importance of negotiating the consultation agenda); (3) recognition (especially for peer consultants and recipients);…

Braskamp uses four questions to focus his discussion on the improvement of faculty evaluation: (1) Why do we assess? (2) What are the standards and criteria of quality and effectiveness? (3) What do we assess? (4) How do we assess? (JM)

Ory emphasizes four processes in assessing faculty: examining the craft of teaching; faculty members reflecting on the quality of and standards for their work; receiving feedback from others with the expectation that faculty will improve and assessing the work of others by focusing on the value of the work. (JM)

This author discusses how some ideas from creative thinking can be applied to help an instructor change his teaching by adapting ideas from others, looking from new perspectives, using models, and inquiry. It is best to start small and be clear on what is actually happening in the class. (MLW)

Reviews recent research on student learning and motivation and applies conclusions to college instruction. Examines findings and instructional implications of the behaviorist model, the cognitive model, metacognition, learner-centered models, the unique learner, and motivation from a learning perspective. Concludes that the biggest variable in…

Evaluation alone will probably not improve teaching, but, when it is accompanied by feedback, information about teaching and learning, and work with a knowledgeable consultant, evaluation may lead to improvement. An experienced consultant can foster trust, offer encouragement, and provide guided practice to help faculty improve their teaching…