Hi,
A few suggestions:
1. The meetings should be on a predictable, REGULAR BASIS so that grad
students can plan to attend (modeling one of the important strategies
for successful teaching: Planning). This is not the same as regularly
announcing an irregularly scheduled meeting (e.g., always announcing a
meeting two weeks in advance).
2. Make clear in announcements what kind of INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
can be expected (from what I see on the web, only the information part
of this is generally offered).
3. Another key to increasing attendance is DISTRIBUTION. Remind
teaching faculty (not just grad students) that the regularly scheduled
meeting is coming up in 7 days and in 2 days. Do this on the web,
through email, and on flyers. For flyers, choose a distinctive color
for the teaching seminar and always put teaching seminar flyers on this
same color. These flyers should be BOTH: distributed to mailboxes AND
posted in places frequented by teaching faculty (e.g., over every copy
machine in the department - give them something to read in that
photo-copy-zen state of mind). Also, remove the flyer as soon as the
meeting is over or post flyers that list SEVERAL upcoming meetings and
leave in place for a long time (the first strategy is actually more
likely to generate attendance, since the old flyer disappears and a
blank spot on the wall exists for a bit before the new flyer is posted).
4. Personally invite five people to the meeting, one at a time. For
each who promises to attend, ask them to commit to bringing a friend.
Shandy
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