Start As You Mean To Go On
Teaching Tips for New Professors and Lecturers
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Although most new professors have already clocked countless hours in the classroom as teaching assistants, the shift to being the sole authority in the room can be a scary one. No matter how prepared you might feel, the first days (or weeks or months) at any new job tend to be a bit overwhelming β and that's totally normal. So, whether you feel like legging it home and hiding under the covers until winter break, or you just need a little extra boost to get you on the right track, the following 10 tips will help you stay motivated, organized and have you ready for the coming academic year and all itβs likely to throw at you.
1. Ask for Advice
Itβs important to remember that everyone was new at some point. Whether before, during or after your first semester, donβt hesitate to reach out to colleagues for advice and assistance. As almost everyone previously in this position will attest, other faculty members can give you specific advice about your institution and help you understand the nuances of what itβs like to work there β use them! Itβs also useful to remember that no one is expecting perfection from day one β or day fifty for that matter β so asking questions, rather than showing ignorance as it sometimes can feel like, is just the sensible and smart thing to do.
2. Define Clear Goals
This goes for both you and for your students. In the first few sessions, make it clear to your students what you hope to achieve and how you plan on getting there. Donβt simply go over the syllabus. Instead, explain to students why you chose the content and how you expect to tackle it together. Students will appreciate the time you take elaborating why week 2 is macro rather than microeconomics, and why Keynes comes before Friedman. Having them on board from the get-go, feeling part of the process βteaching is after all a two way street β will stand you in good stead.
3. Establish Your Role Early On
While high school students tend to be a bit more aggressive than college students when it comes to jumping on a teacherβs vulnerabilities, itβs still incredibly important to show that you are the boss straight away β and first impressions in this regard are particularly important. Building back respect after a bad first few weeks is difficult. Avoid this by asserting yourself from the get-go. You neednβt overly impose yourself, just show your class that there are some lines that cannot be crossed. If you feel nervous, remember that you have earned this position and that itβs yours alone.
4. Always Be Prepared (And Prepared to Change)
One of the best ways to establish yourself as an authority in the classroom is to always come prepared. Be sure to set up anything youβll need during your lecture or discussion in advance so that if there are any issues you can take care of them beforehand without wasting valuable class time. If something goes wrong or gets changed last minute, be prepared to go with the flow β itβs best to always have a back-up plan.
5. Try Out Diverse Teaching Methods
You might have clear ideas about what type of professor you want to be before you enter the classroom, but donβt be surprised if your expectations shift once reality sets in. Though sticking to a plan is important, itβs also a good idea to experiment with an array of teaching tools and methods. Gone are the days when a blackboard and a piece of chalk would suffice. Gone also are the days when a simple slideshow accompaniment would suffice. Nowadays, particularly post-COVID, the use of technology is indispensable, a must if students are to stay engaged β and INOMICS has a blog article dedicated exclusively to which tools will best serve this need .
6. Donβt Be Afraid to Make Mistakes
Itβs understandable to always want to answer studentsβ questions and know the right answers, but itβs impossible to be right all the time. If you donβt know an answer, itβs best to simply admit that and come back to that student once youβve figured it out. Your students will respect you more if you admit your flaws rather than pretending to be sure about something when youβre not.
7. Have High Expectations and Engage Your Students
Whether youβre teaching in a community college or an Ivy League university, itβs important to remember that, more often than not, your students will rise to the occasion and meet the standards you set, provided you give them the opportunity to do so. This means not only presenting challenges, but showing students you have faith in their ability, and affording them independence. Most will respond positively to this kind of treatment, and will derive confidence from the trust you place in them.
8. Depth is Usually Better than Breadth
Many new professors feel that if they donβt get through every page of a book and every item on the syllabus they havenβt done their job. Yet, for most students, a comprehensive examination of one subject is much better than a superficial look at many subjects. So, as is pointed out in this Psychology Today article, donβt be afraid to let a good discussion go on a bit longer than planned β just be clear about your expectations for what students need to be familiar with even if you donβt get through everything in class.
9. Take Notes and Build On Your Own Experiences
In addition to incorporating the advice of other professors, itβs important to reflect on your own experience in the classroom. Taking notes or keeping a teaching journal can help you veer away from things that didnβt work and focus on what did. As this blog post from About Education highlights, itβs also important to reflect on whatβs doable for you. If the first few weeks of classes make you realize youβve packed too much in, donβt be afraid to adapt the syllabus for the rest of the semester.
10. Be Yourself and Have Fun
Although it might not always be easy to stay relaxed, try to remember that being yourself and showing your passion for your subject is normally the most effective motivator for students and certainly the best way for you to enjoy your job. Youβve made it through grad school and landed a job as a professor, so be proud of yourself β and have some fun with it!
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