Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Multiple Instructors to Teach Single Courses

Abstract

We set out to identify the benefits and drawbacks of using more than one instructor to teach single section science courses at a large research university. Nine courses were investigated involving widely differing subjects and levels. Teaching models included: sequential teaching with two to six instructors each covering only their own modules, two teachers present in class at all times, and hybrids of these two models. A three-question survey was answered by 957 students and 17 instructors. Dominant advantages identified by both groups were variety of teaching style or perspectives and instructor expertise, with instructors being more likely to identify expertise as the primary advantage. Dominant disadvantages identified were adjustment to teaching style and expectations and confusion and communication issues. Data suggest that advantages are maximized and disadvantages minimized either in courses with two or more instructors interacting and collaborating in class or when special care is taken with coordination and collaboration if the course is sequentially taught. We conclude with specific recommendations to instructors and departments based on evidence from the data.

Keywords:

• instructor perspectives
• multiple instructors
• student perspectives
• team teaching

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Wendy Adams and Sarah Gilbert for advice regarding data analysis and writing, Sarah Henderson and Carrie Wong for assisting with data coding and background research, and the students and instructors who participated in these surveys. Feedback from anonymous reviewers has also been crucial in helping improve the article. This work was made possible by the Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative at the University of British Columbia.