CandidProf: teaching isn't just a job
by Miki Saxon
CandidProf is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at a state university. He’ll be sharing his thoughts and experience teaching today’s students anonymously every Thursday—anonymously because that’s the only way he can write really candid posts.
What I do is not just a job. I know a few college professors, and several pre-college teachers who see what they do as just a job. They are not very good at what they do, though. Sometimes, you have to do more than just stand in front of a class and talk.
Good instruction means taking time to prepare what you are going to say. Yes, I’ve taught for enough years that I can just walk into a classroom, with no notes and no preparation, and start lecturing. And, my students would learn something. But they would not learn as much as if I had actually prepared. Now, I don’t often follow my notes. I have gone over what I’ve got to say before I say it, and I’ve taught this material for so long that I am quite familiar with it. Still, I prepare.
That preparation also means that I have to keep current in the field. What new developments have there been? What new discoveries supersede what the textbook says? It is my job to know my field. That means spending many, many hours reading journals. It means going to conferences. It means keeping up with my own research.
And, of course, I need to grade student papers. I want to give reasonable feedback so that they can learn from their mistakes. But that takes extra time. I don’t have to do that. I know several faculty who don’t give students any feedback. But for my class practically every thing in the class is a learning experience. There is a reason that I have certain students go out of their way to take my class.
I am not the easiest professor around. That is clear from the internet sites where students evaluate their professors. However, I am thorough, fair and my students learn. So, those students that want an easy “A” take someone else’s class and those who want to learn take my class.
How tough are your kids teachers?
Your comments—priceless
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Image credit: nazreth CC license
July 17th, 2008 at 11:08 am
When CandidProf sent this post he mentioned that that his next few posts might be shorter because he was swamped. I asked about the problem and thought you’d find his reply interesting, especially in light of the unconscious “teachers only work nine months” assumption most of us have.
“They have a 3 week summer enrichment program here for kids, and their physics person had a family emergency, so they tapped me to help, and that is taking a lot of time every day. I did something like that at Rice University when I was younger, so I know that the kids get a lot out of it, but I’m not used to working with children and it is taking a lot out of me. And that is on top of my regular summer classes. If there weren’t enough, I got word that I need to do revisions on two papers that I submitted for publication. (It’s still publish or parish in higher ed—Miki) They want those by August 8. And I am working on some other publications that are due by the end of this month! I took on a bit much, but I can do it. It will just keep me extra busy for a while. Things will slow after next week (when the 3 week thing is over).”
July 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I can relate to CandidProf’s philosophy, as I taught college English with the same approach. While the other classes assigned short stories I assigned novels with the same deadlines. The good students responded with enthusiasm at being challenged, the bad ones transferred out early.I miss it.
Don’t fall for CP’s busy schedule schtick. Summer is wonderful in Academia, no matter how hot. The day the students come back and the bars and restaurants fill back up is the most depressing. Your secret’s safe with me, CP. I won’t tell.
Miki: Unrelated co-blogging idea… the head of Red Bull is Forbes 287th richest guy in the world. He spends untold millions building an image via sports sponsorships, advertising, etc. Then he allows his company to get embroiled in a cheezy vending scandal that has landed him on the dreaded FranchisePick.com hotseat. This is a Leadership (Wrong) Turn!
Here’s an interesting story you may want to share with your readers both as a warning about vending or other scams that use well-known names to add credibility, and the damage a company’s reputation can suffer by associating with the wrong people. While Red Bull spends millions in advertising and sports sponsorships to create a positive image, a bad vending franchise program has ignited a controversy involving a very angry & vocal group of investors. Feel free to link to and or quote from the dozens of comments they are leaving on franchise watchdog site Unhappy Franchisee and Franchise Pick.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
incidentally… I believe the italics in your comment needs an end-italics symbol. that’s why your whole blog looks italicized. I speak from experience.
July 17th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Sean, Knowing your sense of humor you must have been a great teacher—assuming, of course, that your students knew enough English (and I DON’T mean as a second language) to appreciate your wit.
As to CP’s schedule, he only said that he was in a three-week crunch. But most of the schools I know operate all year, especially colleges, which, according to a different prof I know, doesn’t give nearly as good a break from the little darlings as in the past
I’ll swing by and see if I can sound intelligent regarding Red Bull, but no promises.
Thanks for the heads up, I did have the end italics symbol—guess it didn’t take, but it’s all fixed now:)
July 24th, 2008 at 3:33 am
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