Chism, Nancy Van Note2011-02-072011-02-072004Nancy Chism. "Characteristics of Effective Teaching in Higher Education: Between Definitional Despair and Certainty," Journal of Excellence in College Teaching 15, no. 3 (2004): 5-36.Nancy Chism. "Characteristics of Effective Teaching in Higher Education: Between Definitional Despair and Certainty." February 7, 2011. Available from IUPUI ScholarWorks. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/2454.1052-4800https://hdl.handle.net/1805/2454This item submitted to IUPUI ScholarWorks as part of the OASIS Project. Article reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Permission granted through posted policies on copyright owner’s website or through direct contact with copyright owner.Conflicting claims about the definition of teaching effectiveness in higher education abound. While some argue that the characteristics of effective teaching are well known and supported by a large body of research, others argue that teaching cannot be readily defined, and attempts to do so are doomed. The author reviews the ways in which the topic of college teaching effectiveness has been explored, detailing findings and discussion ways in which this literature can inform decision making in higher education.en-USexpertshigher educationlearningstudentsteaching effectivenessEducational evaluationCollege teachingArticle