Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors - Softcover

Kowis, Mike

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0997994614 ISBN 13: 9780997994612

Publisher: Lecture PRO Publishing, 2016

Synopsis

In this amusing and award-winning* how-to guide for professors, seasoned instructor Mike Kowis shares 44 COLLEGE TEACHING TIPS that will help any teacher:

• ENGAGE students in thought-provoking classroom discussions,
• MOTIVATE them to read the assigned materials,
• INSPIRE them to attend all classes and stay till the final bell rings,
• CREATE a fun and lively learning environment, and
• ENCOURAGE students to use their critical thinking skills.

This insightful book was updated in 2025. It is based on the many lessons that Mike Kowis learned during his 20+ years of teaching, and it’s filled with dozens of hilarious—and often embarrassing—anecdotes. Whether you are a first-time college instructor searching for ways to connect with your audience or a tenured professor seeking to rediscover your passion, Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors will help you fully engage your students in classroom discussions.

• *This book was selected as the Winner in the Education/Academic category of the 2017 International Book Awards, the Bronze Medal Winner in the Non-fiction Education genre of the 2017 Readers' Favorite Book Awards, and the solo Medalist Winner in the Education category of the 2016 New Apple Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing.

About this title

About the Author

Mike Kowis, Esq., has taught fun and engaging night classes at a large community college in Texas since 2001. He commands the attention of his students by using the Socratic-lite Teaching Method, occasional swear words, as well as heavy doses of juvenile jokes, wild examples, and other tomfoolery. With his upbeat attitude and joking demeanor, it's hard to believe that he lives out his days as a mild-mannered tax attorney at a Fortune 500 company. In his spare time, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, reading, writing, performing stand-up comedy at Open Mic Nights, and competing in off-road racing on ATVs and UTVs.

Mike has written four nonfiction books about various topics he feels passionate about, including a humorous book about college teaching tips (Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors), a self-publishing guide (14 Steps to Self-Publishing a Book), a book marketing guide for independently-published authors (Smart Marketing for Indie Authors: How I Sold my First 1,563 Books and Counting) and his latest book about off-road racing (Texas Off-road Racing: A Father-Son Journey to a Side-by-Side Championship).

In addition, he co-authored a FREE eBook about authorship with Ms. Sharon C. Jenkins (Maximize Your Book Sales with Data Analysis: The Cure for Authorship Analysis Paralysis).

Mike has earned a bachelor's degree plus two law degrees (including an advanced law degree from Georgetown University Law Center). He lives in Texas with his wife and family. You can find more information about his helpful books and speaking engagements at mikekowis.com.

From the Back Cover

His 44 practical tips range from ribald to reassuring as he imparts his hard-won wisdom from teaching courses at a major junior college in Texas for fifteen years. They're practical pearls that can liven up even the most tedious curriculum.

Here's a sample:

"Tell Adult Jokes and Funny Stories." One semester a late-arriving student was greeted with the words: "Welcome to Sex Education 101."

Another time Kowis intentionally farted on a student in the hallway. Thus, another tip: "Don't Pass Gas on Students!"

Pro Tip 3: "Wear a Zany Hat or Costume," suggests that an instructor teaching Hamlet should come to class in Elizabethan garb.

There are plenty of other more serious tips and correlated commentary that can come in very handy -- particularly to new profs. Among them:

* "Don't Make Fun of Students' Names"
* "Give Praise Often"
* "Memorize Each Student's Name," and
* "Remind Students of Semester Progress"

Stepping out of my book reviewer mode, I will share a little insight. Before I began reviewing books, I taught as part of the adjunct faculty at two major universities and a community college. I sincerely wish I had had the benefit of reading Prof. Kowis' tips before fumbling my way through my first class.

Mike Kowis has written a five-star, articulate guide to what instructors need to do -- and not do -- to gain respect and admiration from their students. It's a truly inspiring and yet practical guide for both new teachers and those who have been in front of students on a daily basis for years.

I will add one final evaluation to the dozens outlined in the book. Good job, Mr. Kowis.

-- Don Sloan, writing for Publishers Daily Reviews

Edition details

• Publisher: Lecture PRO Publishing
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0997994614
• ISBN 13: 9780997994612
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 168