Teaching Political Science: An Adult Learning Framework

Being a great political science teacher is not a matter of fate; it is something that comes with training, experience, practice, and reflection. Teaching adults requires a different way of thinking than instructing children, and thus this chapter reviews the andragogical approach to teaching and how it differs from pedagogy. It also introduces the FATE philosophy of teaching, explaining how the principles of flexibility, active engagement, transparency, and empathy can guide most teaching decisions.