An Evidence-based Guide to College and University Teaching - Practical

In this review of An Evidence-based Guide to College and University Teaching the authors offer a clear, research-grounded framework for defining and measuring university-level instruction that will most benefit instructors seeking practical, evidence-based direction. The single biggest reason to buy is the book's focus on six concrete teaching characteristics, which provides a structured way to evaluate and improve classroom practice. The review examines how the guide defines model teaching, the clarity of its competency areas, and whether its recommendations translate into tenure and promotion evidence.

Key Features

• Clear definition of model teaching: The book establishes a research-based definition of what constitutes quality teaching so instructors can align practice with accepted standards.
• Six core competency areas: Training, course content, assessment, instructional methods, syllabus construction, and student evaluations are each defined and tied to measurable outcomes.
• Evidence-based recommendations: Authors use research and supplemental evidence to explain how each characteristic supports career milestones like tenure and promotion.
• Practical measurement guidance: The guide provides objective criteria for defining and measuring teaching quality, useful for both self-assessment and departmental review.
• Accessible to varied experience levels: The material is written so that novice and experienced teachers can both apply the recommendations to improve classroom effectiveness.

Who It's For

The guide is ideal for college and university instructors who want an evidence-based framework to improve their teaching and document competence for tenure and promotion. Department chairs and faculty development professionals will find the six competency areas useful for designing workshops and evaluation rubrics.

Those seeking quick lesson plans or detailed classroom activities may need supplemental resources, and readers expecting an exhaustive pedagogical textbook with dozens of case studies should look elsewhere; this book focuses on defining and measuring quality rather than providing an extensive catalog of teaching exercises.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a structured, research-backed definition of quality teaching that departments can adopt.
• Breaks teaching into six actionable competency areas useful for evaluation and professional development.
• Connects teaching characteristics to tenure and promotion processes, helping faculty document impact.

Cons

• Not a handbook of ready-to-use lesson plans, so instructors will need other materials for daily classroom activities.

Specifications

Title	An Evidence-based Guide to College and University Teaching
Authors	Regan A. R. Gurung, Aaron S. Richmond, Guy A. Boysen
Focus	Definition and measurement of model teaching
Core areas	Training; course content; assessment; instructional methods; syllabus construction; student evaluations
Approach	Research evidence and supplemental evidence
Audience	College and university instructors, faculty developers

Our Verdict

For faculty and academic leaders who need a concise, evidence-based framework to define and measure teaching quality, this guide is a practical and well-focused resource. It is good value for anyone documenting teaching for review or seeking consistent evaluation criteria, though those wanting detailed classroom activities will need complementary materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book provide lesson plans?
The guide emphasizes defining and measuring teaching quality rather than supplying specific lesson plans, so practical classroom materials are limited.

Who are the authors?
The book is authored by Regan A. R. Gurung, Aaron S. Richmond, and Guy A. Boysen, who present research-based guidance for higher education teaching.

Can departments use this for evaluation?
Yes, the six competency areas and measurable definitions are suited to departmental evaluation and faculty development use.