Calling all students - what kind of teachers do you like?

[Gwalchmai]

Originally posted by dragon wench:
<STRONG>Prone to wearing a short skirt and revealing top were you? </STRONG>

I do what I have to in the name of education. I'm not proud of it....

@DP: I've got something special picked out for you...

Originally posted by C Elegans:
<STRONG>My next question wil be about examination forms. I am not going to use a standard written exam, at postgraduate level I think mechanical repetion of facts is ridiculous. I'm trying to think of a method that demands creative and independent thinking from the students, and that also offers a challenge to them. Some kind of oral group examination where they get relevant problems to solve, perhaps...</STRONG>

I would suggest interpretive dance as a way of testing them. But, failing that, counting heavilly on group participation and independent study/reports might work also.

[C Elegans]

Originally posted by Gwalchmai:
<STRONG>I would suggest interpretive dance as a way of testing them. But, failing that, counting heavilly on group participation and independent study/reports might work also. </STRONG>

ROFLMAO Interpretive dance The Nobel Committee proudly presents: "The Death Of A Synapse"

[Darkpoet]

Forget it Gwally, there is no way I'm going to Arizona now. There is nothing that would change my mine now. You just stay away from me.

[Silur]

If you can't use your head, use your overhead. If you see one of those gizmo's, forcefully throw it out the window. For one, the humming of the fan keeps students awake.

I guess I've been traumatized by a lecturer who presented barely readable photocopied pages of the textbook on the overhead only to "clarify" by drawing on them with a feltpen. Oh, and his lecture must have been mainly for the machine, since he spoke directly at it (that is, downwards... ).

Anything roughly opposite from that, gets my aproval (and my attention).

[ 10-02-2001: Message edited by: Silur ]

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by Silur:
<STRONG>Anything roughly opposite from that, gets my aproval (and my attention).
</STRONG>

Wouldn't that get in the way of the sleeping though? That is the important thing after all

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by C Elegans:
<STRONG>What is a "filler class"? </STRONG>

A "filler class" is a class that a student takes because they need more credit hours and the class is an 'easy A,' meaning they can get an A with minimal effort. Often times this can be a PA(Physical Activity class). Last year, I took bowling for this purpose. I wish I hadn't though. Those balls are too heavy and it is hard to find one with small enough holes.

[KillerKid]

If wearing tight cloths and showing clevage doesnt work you can always turn it into a nude art class

with all jokes aside the best kind of teacher i have had was 1 that would discuss anything. My favorite teacher ever would discuss about sex {with my other hot teacher? not really) sorry mental picture but he would disuss about anything dealing with sex drugs or death. If a teacher hides their life class would be NO FUN AT ALL!! In class isntead of lectures it was group discussionwith ocasional work. For some reason that class always seemed to bring all the students together. It would all start out with the teacher talking abuot something on topic then the conversation might go somewhere when someone asks a question, but the main thing that makes a teacher is BE HONEST. Never lie or hide anything about your life (espcialy your body EEERRR sorry last time). You should let your students ask any question and not be afraid toa sk questions yourself. Well have fun in it and tell me how things go.

[Shadow Sandrock]

A teacher who is fully capable of meeting the indivudal needs of the student studying under his or her lectures would definitely suffice...

*loves using big words*

Anyways, the kinda teacher a kid wouldn't like would be one who gives lots of demerits and wears a wig!

[Nightmare]

My grade 7 science teacher was the best. He didn't give detentions or too much homework. If you didn't do any work, you would fail because of a bad mark. If you were distruptive, he sent you out of class. He also loved a good arguement (like about some answers on a test). We also debated stuff not dealing with science, like stereotypes. He also made the ciriculum more interesting, by the way he taught it. We had a unit on "structures"; he transform that unit into study of feet. We dealt with arches and foot disorders.

[josh]

I would like demonstrations of theory and examples when teaching. This would liven up things and get people thinking. Standing up and talking for an hour is dead boring.

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by Shadow Sandrock:
<STRONG>A teacher who is fully capable of meeting the indivudal needs of the student studying under his or her lectures would definitely suffice...

*loves using big words*</STRONG>

Where are the big words?

Originally posted by Shadow Sandrock:
<STRONG>Anyways, the kinda teacher a kid wouldn't like would be one who gives lots of demerits and wears a wig! </STRONG>

Punishing when punishment is deserved does need to be done.

What's with this obsession with wigs, ne?

[C Elegans]

Originally posted by Sailor Saturn:
<STRONG>A "filler class" is a class that a student takes because they need more credit hours and the class is an 'easy A,' meaning they can get an A with minimal effort. Often times this can be a PA(Physical Activity class). Last year, I took bowling for this purpose. I wish I hadn't though. Those balls are too heavy and it is hard to find one with small enough holes.</STRONG>

Oh, I see.

McBane, there are no such thing as filler classes among MSc and PhD students - those are people who study to become scientists. You don't get grades in the way you do in highschool or at college. You only take specialist courses in the area you are researching in. So my students are going to be people who have chosen this particular course because they want it and need it for their research. I don't know about the US, but here, you don't apply do postgraduate courses with grades, you apply with motivation and the projects you are involved in.

[GrimReaper]

Originally posted by ThorinOakensfield:
<STRONG>i love class discussions because i love to argue, but i'm in high school so i don't know what PHd classes really do.
I like teachers who don't read from a book or a guide. i like the type who have their points of view and can support them, so that we can all argue! </STRONG>

I agree here, but as stated before, the teacher needs to be a good moderator. Other than that, a teacher should be firm when needed, but have a good sense of humor. Also, they should not do things that even seem pointless. Everything should have an obvious reason behind it. Homework is really what I'm thinking about here. I've gotten some really pointless homework before, and it only lowers my respect for the teacher. They give work just so they can say they gave work.

[THE JAKER]

I think I might disagree with a lot of the other posters, but here goes:

I like a professor who lectures for pretty much the whole class, and doesn't let themself get derailed by off-the-subject questions. It's Ok to tell a student who has asked an irrelevant or off the topic question to "see me after class" or "talk to your t.a." instead of making the entire class sit through pointless backtracking.

I don't like class discussion - I am paying for an expert to explain things, not to listen to a bunch of other students talk about all sorts of stuff - those discussions belong in a Teacher Assistant led session, in the student union, or on the internet, not in the main class.

I like a well organized and pertinent lecture - if a professor has run out of things to say, fine, dismiss the class, don't just repeat the same junk or talk about movies, tv, or current events (unless it really relates to the topic at hand).

this isn't to say that human warmth and empathy is not important, it is, but I personally would rather keep to the subject and hear what the professor has to say than let showboat students (there are always a few) take over.

I like a professor that relates some career advice in a class - if these students are training to be scientists, try to give them some practical advice about how to succeed in that field.

Humor is always good.

Also I have to agree with Sailor Saturn that it's important for an instructor to admit when a student is right about something, it's always sad when the prof pretends not to have heard you

A quick note on testing: multiple choice tests are almost impossible to make well - there are almost always ambiguities in language that lead to questionable answers. Same with true/false. Essay/performance/computation show-your-work tests are the only way to go. That and Interpretive Dance

[Rob-hin]

I hate it when they start to think of "ways to make education fun!"

What I mean is, my little brother has to watch a movie in the german language. So he has decided to wath "Ants".

And has has to go to the theater for about 7 times a year, and he has to pay the tickets himselve!

All this is just to far, forcing them into this kinda stuf.

[Crassus]

Originally posted by THE JAKER:
I like a professor who lectures for pretty much the whole class, and doesn't let themself get derailed by off-the-subject questions. It's Ok to tell a student who has asked an irrelevant or off the topic question to "see me after class" or "talk to your t.a." instead of making the entire class sit through pointless backtracking.

I don't like class discussion - I am paying for an expert to explain things, not to listen to a bunch of other students talk about all sorts of stuff - those discussions belong in a Teacher Assistant led session, in the student union, or on the internet, not in the main class.

I think you would have hated law school. In the United States at least, law school is all about the "Socratic method." The idea is for the professor to ask students questions, and for students to learn from each other's answers.

[Shadow Sandrock]

Originally posted by Sailor Saturn:
<STRONG>Punishing when punishment is deserved does need to be done.

What's with this obsession with wigs, ne?</STRONG>

I mean, this teacher would give you detention if you looked at the wall clock... that doesn't deserve punishment.

I am not obsessed with wigs. I just like to make fun of them.

[GrimReaper]

Jaker: The thing about lectures is that they can easily get very boring. I find that I learn better when there is discussion. Don't get me wrong, the lectures are important, but everybody always has their own opinion on a subject, and I find it interesting to hear it. Also, the teacher should be involved in any discussion. He should not just sit there and let students argue. He needs to be correcting any students that are wrong in their facts, but he should not try to correct a students opinion. Lastly, if the the teacher is a good looking female, the tight clothes never hurts.

[THE JAKER]

Originally posted by GrimReaper:
<STRONG>Jaker: The thing about lectures is that they can easily get very boring</STRONG>

Hey, no argument there - I've taking lots of accounting classes

I think there are SOME lecturers who can do it right, though, and I like that kind of class the best - I guess I think that a lot of professors out there are no good. The problem with class discussion is, it can be a lot of fun, but it doesn't always lead to anyone learning anything about _________ subject, which is what you're trying to learn about. I like having discussions at parties or after class.

[Maharlika]

I'm sorry but I hope that my input isn't late yet...

Well, it seems that you are into the modern approach of pedagogy, i.e., the student-centered approach. No more of the jug (teacher) and mug (student) style which is often seen in pure (monologue) lectures.

Since your target learners are advanced, then one good method to use would be following the Art of Questioning. It may sound Socratic but I think the objective here is to elicit from the students WHAT THEY THINK of the lesson. From there you can facilitate the discussion, and as moderator, you may unlock difficulties or even misinterpretation of the lesson at hand.

The Art of Questioning would somehow follow Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning wherein you construct questions in sequence based on the level or degree of difficulty or complexity. From mere Recall (memory) to Application.

I'm saying this because I assumed that your students are very much interested in the course given their degree of education. They are of course, post graduates. Hence, the job would be relatively easier for you since the aspect of motivation doesn't need much prodding compared to students in the primary, secondary or even tertiary level.

If I were to like my class, I would like active participation from my classmates with the professor moderating the session and coming up with stuff where we can see for ourselves where our teacher is coming from or what he is trying to say.

Since your course would be somewhat abstract in nature, then humor can also come in to give spice as you try to make allusions to parallel situations that are very entertaining and at the same time thought-provoking.

Good luck Ms Elegans and I hope that you TOO would enjoy your sessions with your students.