With that in mind, I offer 10 tips here —accumulated wisdom— that will make your experience richer and more satisfying. Take a look, and consider incorporating them as you plan for the summer.
1. PLAN AHEAD. Come to the ship ready to go, with all (or most) of your lectures and activities in place. You will NOT have a lot of time to prepare on the ship.
2. Keep LECTURING to a MINIMUM. Students learn when they are engaged, and this is even more true on the ship. Keep it ACTIVE, allow students to participate. Use CREATIVE class activities.
3. Maintain your ACADEMIC STANDARDS, but do so with REASON. Keep the academic pressure on, but be mindful of the unique environment of the MV Explorer.
4. Be CLEAR about your expectations.
5. As much as possible, connect class work with the PORTS. We are involved in a comparative global education project.
6. POWERPOINTS: minimize text, use the upper 2/3 of the slide (see below).
7. Prepare students for your FIELD LAB. Explain what you want to accomplish, what the standards are (intellectual, behavior, timing, dress), what the work will be. Students will be engaged, not merely "hanging out." Why are you doing what you are doing? What are the research expectations? Remind students that 1) they must not schedule any other trip during this time, and 2) NO OTHER individuals may join them (not friends or parents or other guests).
8. In-country assignments: be engaged, be intentional, be rigorous, be respectful.
9. LENS CLASSES: teaching in the Union is an additional challenge. Make it FEEL small (have students sit up front, take attendance, engage them in small groups, no electronics)
10. Give them assignments EARLY in the course; this will enable you to set the standards, determine their levels, flag students who might need extra help.
Two sample POWER POINT illustrations (sorry for the cropping). Which is easier for the students to see?
