First, I want to preface this article by saying that being a professor is truly an extraordinary job. On top of all the research, studies, and professional accomplishments you have achieved throughout your academic career, you also have to manage teaching students, maintaining communication with them, and grading hundreds of papers. Although as a student, I can only offer my own perspective, certain policies, structures, and experiences have made me appreciate my professors a lot more.
I understand that communicating with students can be difficult, especially when it comes to attendance policies. However, as a student, commuting, balancing job interviews, jobs, constantly getting sick, and dealing with other extenuating circumstances can make it difficult to attend every class or show up on time. While I believe students should communicate these circumstances with their professors, I also believe professors should extend some level of empathy and understanding in return.
Some professors underestimate how packed a student’s schedule can be. The amount of work assigned can sometimes feel unrealistic, especially when professors prioritize their courses without considering the workload students have across their other classes. Keeping this in mind when assigning work, especially when considering how much time an assignment realistically requires, is crucial when creating an effective learning environment.
I have found that the projects with the clearest instructions, including examples of past projects, have been the most helpful. I have dealt with numerous projects with vague instructions, and when you ask for help, you sometimes end up even more confused. Make it clear what needs to be done so that expectations are not left up for interpretation. The clearer the instructions, the easier it is for students to meet expectations and for professors to achieve the common goal of producing high-quality work.
Professors have different policies concerning AI, and I respect that. Although I will say that students will use AI regardless, whether it is prohibited or not. This is purely opinionated and depends on the case, but creating an open conversation about AI use is better than shunning the topic of AI completely. One thing I especially liked in my Social Psychology class was how the professor asks that if we use AI, we should include a disclosure. This encourages open and honest conversation about AI use. It does not have to be exactly the same for every class since, for a coding assignment, that approach would be counterproductive. However, I think it is important to acknowledge AI use and consider how to help students understand the implications it can have on their own learning.
If you notice your class is not interacting or it is always the same students participating, chances are a majority of students may not understand what is going on. You need to alter your teaching strategy to find what works best for your class. I’ve seen numerous professors who are well-versed in their subjects, but as educators, they should know how to teach. Making your class as interactive as possible is the key to engaging an otherwise disengaged class (lecture-style classes are where students often struggle to pay attention). If students do not know the answers, don’t take it personally. Instead of moving on to another student to explain the answer, take the time to walk the student through the reasoning so they can understand where they went wrong.
Don’t hold students past class time. Now and then is understandable, but don’t make it habitual. Being understanding when communicating with students goes a long way. Definitely read your Rate My Professors reviews, and the end-of-semester feedback sometimes offered as extra credit (gives incentive for students to actually do them). They can be very extreme, but there may be a common consensus worth considering; think of it while conducting a personal analysis of your teaching style.
I realize some of this advice may be obvious or doesn’t apply to you; though, as a student, I’ve come across these problems throughout my college experience. Overall, being considerate of students and understanding what motivates them to learn can make a huge difference in whether they feel obligated versus determined to participate and genuinely want to do well in your class.
