Effective teaching is a complex and everchanging beast. The first step is knowing the content and anticipating the needs of the students during the course of the class. Lecture-based format is among the least effective teaching strategies. Instead developing case studies, inquiry-based labs and small group projects can help students learn the content. Students come in with a variety of learning preferences, abilities and deficits. As the instructor it is important to understand what these are and to address them on an individual and group basis. Finally making your instruction interesting and relevant to the ever-changing world will help students learn not only the content, but also its relevance in society and their own world.
