How to be The Best Instructor… From a Student's Perspective
In my collegiate education, I have experienced quite an array of professors. While I cannot deny that I have learned something unique from each one, there are several that made a lasting impact through the way they taught. By utilizing methods that captivated my classmates and myself alike, they were able to enhance learning and take our understanding of the topic to new heights.
A common misconception is that teaching requires little to no work: some lectures and a few tests are sufficient to understanding of the given topic. In my experience, this could not be farther from the truth. The professors that truly left an impact on my learning experience went above and beyond. With work at home and distance learning situations at hand, captivating your audience (in this case, students) is now more important than ever.
Here are some of my insights on how to be the best educator:
Give a Presentation
This seems self-explanatory, but let’s face the facts: lectures are boring! I can imagine this is not only the case for students but also the professor who has mastery-level understanding of the topic.
Therefore, why not spice your lecture up by asking questions, telling stories, and encouraging group dialogue/demonstrations? Admittedly, one of the most captivating professors I’ve had was also the most eccentric. He would stop class midway through to explain a very detailed recipe for his favorite homemade yogurt, or tell us stories about his cross-country hiking trips. Oftentimes, his lectures were so performative that it was impossible to look away. Whether he intended to or not, these anecdotes created a sort of pattern interrupt that forced the class to continually reengage with the lecture.
Breaking the status quo of lecture makes the material more interesting, allows students to form deeper thoughts about the material, and helps them make friends. It's a win-win for everyone involved.
Be Active
You would be surprised how many professors sit or stand in place while presenting their material. Body language is an enormous, but often overlooked, aspect of any presentation… and teaching is no exception. Walking around the classroom and using body movements as you teach is a very easy way to help students remain stimulated and focused.
Hint: While this strategy may not be as applicable in a virtual setting, you can still heighten your Zoom presentation skills – Check out Marianna’s tips on presenting virtually!)
Form a Connection
In my favorite college course to date, I ended up becoming very familiar with my professor. From the beginning of the semester, it was obvious that she cared for each of us on a personal level. Despite having a class of 50 students, she managed to learn each of our names and remembered topics we had spoken about during class discussions. I always looked forward to going to her class; not necessarily because the material was interesting (although it was!) but because she felt like a friend. Forming this relationship with students is important, because it creates a mutual respect. This also helps us students’ feel more confident in speaking up to ask questions and answer yours.
Be Thorough in Your Expectations
This is so important! Without clear expectations, a professor is essentially setting students up for failure, as they are unable to learn and utilize essential time management skills. Some of the most structured courses I have taken lay out the entire semester in the syllabus prior to the first day of class – this is a great strategy.
Introducing thorough expectations allows students to budget their time between your course, other courses, extracurriculars, and miscellaneous colligate obligations. Not only should you set this precedence, but ensure that you stick to it as well. No student likes to find out they have additional assignments that weren’t included on the syllabus or that their test is much earlier than anticipated. Failing to provide these expectations will definitely not give you a good reputation among the student population. In fact, some students will advise against taking a specific professor’s course solely for this reason.
Be Open to Change
Don’t forget that there is always room for improvement, even as a professional, and especially in a rapidly changing world. Encourage an open dialogue on how you can be better. One of my professors gave us evaluation sheets 3x throughout the semester, and made slight adaptations to the course based on the responses she received.
Having the opportunity to give this constructive criticism made the classroom feel like a safe space, and helped my professor better understand our needs. Sometimes, minor adjustments can be an enormous accommodation to students with a different learning style or disability.
As a student, I can assure you that these small changes will motivate your students (or any audience) to stay engaged and connected to your lesson. I have seen first-hand each of these these strategies create a more passionate and thoughtful classroom – even in the most boring of courses!
These observations have also shaped the way that I interact in a professional capacity. I believe there is an opportunity for these methods to transcend academics – the vast majority of these strategies can be implemented in personal or professional settings.
About The Author
Emma is a senior studying Advertising, Public Relations, and Psychology at Loyola University Chicago. In her free time, she loves to learn about outer space, gardening, and most importantly: digital marketing. To learn more and connect with Emma, visit her website.
