The Torch or The Firehose

"The Torch or the Firehose: A Guide for Section Teaching" written by MIT Mathematics Professor Arthur Mattuck, is a guide to recitation teaching at MIT. With good humor and sound advice, Professor Mattuck offers both novice and seasoned recitation instructors guidelines on how sections can best serve as a complement to lectures, how to help students become better learners, and how to enjoy your experience in the classroom. 

If you are a member of the MIT community, a printed copy of this booklet is offered to you free of charge, or you can click here to download a copy of "The Torch or the Firehose".

If you are not a member of the MIT community and would like a hard copy of "The Torch or The Firehose", you are invited to purchase this booklet for $5.00 per copy plus shipping and handling. To order, please call the Teaching and Learning Laboratory at 617-253-2850 or send e-mail to firehose@mit.edu.

Table of Contents

1. Prologue
2. The Glass Wall: Encouraging Interaction
3. Questions: Theirs and Yours
4. Before You Walk In...
5. A Word About Pedagogy
6. In the Classroom
7. Off to a Good Start
8. Basic Communication Skills
9. Seeing Is Understanding: Using the Blackboard
10. Evaluating Your Students: Assignments, Exams, Grades
11. Evaluating You: Feedback
12. Small Groups: Tutorials and Office Hours
13. Invisible Students
14. Teachers from Other Countries
15. Problem Students and Students with Problems
16. Epilogue: A Word About You
17. Summary