At the May 5 kick-off event for the Bok Center’s 40th anniversary celebration, former Harvard president Derek Bok recalled his first speech to the faculty, in 1971 when his term began, which he devoted to the subject of teaching. Afterward Bok spoke to his friend the eminent physicist Gerald Holton, “and I asked him, Gerry, how did it go? And he said, well, 80 percent of the faculty have given up on you.”
The first assignment, for the General Education course on “Primitive Navigation,” was for students to start at the John Harvard statue in the Yard, walk due west for what seemed 20 minutes with no tools or aids including a watch or phone, and see where they ended up. Probably students had an inkling this wasn’t going to end well. They would end up all over the greater Harvard Square area, knowing they were “lost.” So what?
Over the past 40 years, the Derek Bok Center has supported and enhanced instruction at Harvard through the training of faculty and graduate students in effective pedagogy. This commitment to the...
Each year, eight PhD candidates are chosen to receive in-depth, personalized mentoring and coaching by the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. The program culminates in a symposium of brief, compelling talks where these scholars present their research from the Sanders Theatre stage.
The Bok Center's Learning Lab and other Science Center staff have moved to 50 Church Street, 3rd floor. Come visit us here!... Read more about We moved!
Join the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning as we showcase projects and innovations across the Harvard teaching community. Our community of students, scholars, and staff will be sharing what we have done and learned this year, though hands-on demonstrations, videos, and poster presentations.
On 12 May, the Bok Center held its annual Spring Showcase, inviting friends and colleagues from around the university and beyond to experience some of the dozens of innovative projects and initiatives that Bok launched during the 2016–2017 academic year.... Read more about Sampling innovations in teaching and learning
In the November 2017 issue of Harvard Magazine, Harvard President Drew Faust reflects on the ways that we measure and evaluate the success (and value) of a Harvard education, and highlights the Bok Center's efforts to innovate undergraduate pedagogy:... Read more about Measuring an Education
