Reflecting on Student Expectations
Other than high grades, what do university students want from their educational institutions in general and their teachers in particular? Decades of teaching experience combined with a broad internet search should give a clue.
It is unwise to over-generalize about students as the composition of any institution is rarely homogeneous. Besides, individual students change their expectations over time. Still, there may be common denominators shining through. One such commonality, especially in Western-style institutions is the perception that students are customers/clients of their academic institutions, that they have “customer rights”, and that they are justified in demanding a service that meets their expectations. Besides being subject matter experts, students expect their teachers to be skilled communicators; to be enthusiastic about the subject matter, motivating their students; to structure courses effectively, and support students in their learning. Other demands include friendliness, linking the subject matter to the workplace, giving clear instructions, showing interest in individual students, and giving prompt, high quality feedback.
In a recent study at Memorial University, researchers isolated dozens of adjectives for effective university teachers from various student survey responses. Further analysis revealed that the following characteristics were considered the most important by the majority, whether in conventional or online teaching: respectful, knowledgeable, approachable, engaging, communicative, organized, responsive, professional and humorous (“Students' Perceptions of Teaching in Higher Education”).
A short video by the Bok Center reflects some of the above points well, based on the views of forty Harvard undergraduates. Additional requirements are energy, enjoyment, clarity and step by step explanations. One warning though: “an entertaining professor does not make a good class” ("What Students Want: Teaching from a Student's Perspective").
A Berkeley article entitled “What do Students Want?” captures the essence of students’ expectations from a university in general: research possibilities, the right major, and effective advising. As one Berkeley student put it, however, “academic momentum” is critical: "That first A+ really gets the ball rolling!"
Posted by May Mikati on 28 November 2011, 10:28 PM
Feedback
I was just organizing my schedule for next semester. I totally agree with what is said above. Though some students have an active social life and just want an easy course that will give them an easy 80, I think I prefer a course with a professor that is engaging and evaluates students based on how much effort they put into the course(attendes, attentive, does homework regularly). As for major courses(especially if its a tough major like Engineering) I think students look for the professor that would give grades but at the same time explains well and is available to answer questions always in case it is the kind of material that would be used frequently in the future. Humor is a plus, but not for professors that use their humor in a disrespectful way...
Engineering Student | 10 December 2011, 9:24 PM
Thank you for the feedback. It's good that this blog is becoming more interactive. Besides, student input is definitely relevant here.
May Mikati | 29 December 2011, 2:18 PM
2 comments
Other than high grades, what do university students want from their educational institutions in general and their teachers in particular? Decades of teaching experience combined with a broad internet search should give a clue.
It is unwise to over-generalize about students as the composition of any institution is rarely homogeneous. Besides, individual students change their expectations over time. Still, there may be common denominators shining through. One such commonality, especially in Western-style institutions is the perception that students are customers/clients of their academic institutions, that they have “customer rights”, and that they are justified in demanding a service that meets their expectations. Besides being subject matter experts, students expect their teachers to be skilled communicators; to be enthusiastic about the subject matter, motivating their students; to structure courses effectively, and support students in their learning. Other demands include friendliness, linking the subject matter to the workplace, giving clear instructions, showing interest in individual students, and giving prompt, high quality feedback.
In a recent study at Memorial University, researchers isolated dozens of adjectives for effective university teachers from various student survey responses. Further analysis revealed that the following characteristics were considered the most important by the majority, whether in conventional or online teaching: respectful, knowledgeable, approachable, engaging, communicative, organized, responsive, professional and humorous (“Students' Perceptions of Teaching in Higher Education”).
A short video by the Bok Center reflects some of the above points well, based on the views of forty Harvard undergraduates. Additional requirements are energy, enjoyment, clarity and step by step explanations. One warning though: “an entertaining professor does not make a good class” ("What Students Want: Teaching from a Student's Perspective").
A Berkeley article entitled “What do Students Want?” captures the essence of students’ expectations from a university in general: research possibilities, the right major, and effective advising. As one Berkeley student put it, however, “academic momentum” is critical: "That first A+ really gets the ball rolling!"
Posted by May Mikati on 28 November 2011, 10:28 PM
Feedback
I was just organizing my schedule for next semester. I totally agree with what is said above. Though some students have an active social life and just want an easy course that will give them an easy 80, I think I prefer a course with a professor that is engaging and evaluates students based on how much effort they put into the course(attendes, attentive, does homework regularly). As for major courses(especially if its a tough major like Engineering) I think students look for the professor that would give grades but at the same time explains well and is available to answer questions always in case it is the kind of material that would be used frequently in the future. Humor is a plus, but not for professors that use their humor in a disrespectful way...
Engineering Student | 10 December 2011, 9:24 PM
Thank you for the feedback. It's good that this blog is becoming more interactive. Besides, student input is definitely relevant here.
May Mikati | 29 December 2011, 2:18 PM
2 comments
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