The authors captured students' and instructors' views of teaching effectiveness at the postsecondary level in two ways: open-ended questions delivered online to 500 students and one-on-one interviews with 15 instructors. A grounded theory approach suggested that effective teaching involves good communication aimed at helping students understand course concepts, strategies that engage students in learning, and a close monitoring of whether students are understanding, what they termed "metacognitive teaching." Students and instructors differed in their views of the outcomes of effective teaching, with students expecting good grades and instructors emphasizing critical thinking.