OPINION: Professor etiquette 101
April 10, 2023
Professors can influence a student in the best and worst way possible. They have a greater impact than given credit for; therefore, sometimes what happens in the classroom goes unnoticed or slides under the rug. There are many things that can go right in a classroom, but also, many things that can go wrong. College students know professors want their students to thrive in their class. These are some things professors can keep in mind when teaching:
#1 Not so much work
Professors normally have to go through many different topics in class in order to teach the whole lesson plan. However, even though there might be a lot to get through, there is no excuse for more homework than needed. Sometimes, the homework feels like busy work, while other times the homework feels excessive. Students can have up to 18 credits of classes or more, while possibly working a job and keeping a social life. College students want to go out onto Sanford Mall and have fun with friends, but it can be difficult to do so when there is so much required work outside of class, sometimes more than the estimated homework per credit hour. Professors should consider how long assignments can take for students outside of class and be mindful of all the work for the stressed out college students.
#2 Create energy in the classroom
College students can have a multitude of classes in one day. Be mindful college students could be coming into class exhausted or tired. If the professor comes in talking as though they are bored, it takes away from the love of learning within the classroom. College students usually match the energy of the professors, especially the 8 a.m. classes where all professors want to do is lecture. Professors need to have the students move around or engage in the topic. They need to create excitement in the classroom to the point where students want to come to class and learn, because the energy in the classroom is positive and fun. College students can tell which professors want to be there and which ones do not. Creating a positive and engaging classroom environment could make students want to come for the class and not just the attendance policy.
#3 Be mindful of the differing opinions
In some classes, there are debates or topics that are brought up within the class. These topics could be sensitive to others or something other students are really passionate about. Students have different viewpoints on life, so be cautious when criticizing a religion or anything of cultural significance. It may not impact the professor’s life, but it is a large part of someone else’s. Inside the classroom, college students are there to learn, not to be ridiculed about their life. Do not be the professor that breaks a student’s spirit or love of a topic. Professors should not make a student feel miniscule for disagreeing with their opinion. If a professor has to diminish a college student’s opinion to validate theirs in a debate, it is not much of debate. If a professor does any of these things, the environment in the classroom immediately becomes untrustworthy and creates an unstable foundation for students.
There are many amazing professors out there already teaching their students in a way that creates a safe environment where students want to learn and grow. Most college students are grateful to the professors who are continuing or willing to teach during these times. Being a professor is not an easy task and college students can sometimes be difficult to teach. College students are scrounging websites like Rate My Professors to ensure they get a professor that understands some of these suggestions. That is not to say professors need to change everything about their teaching styles, but maybe just take some feedback every once in a while. A happy classroom is one with both happy students and a happy professor. Accountability from both students and professors can make all the difference in a classroom.Â
Being a professor is not easy and the profession deserves the utmost respect. Thank you to all the professors out there, many of you have helped students grow to be who they are today.
Ryan Carter • Apr 25, 2023 at 7:10 am
It is also good for students to know how they should operate within a classroom.
1. It is YOUR responsibility as a college student to be prepared to take on and hear differing perspectives. Disagreements are healthy and contribute to a more open and vigorous educational environment. Many students come in with the assumption that their opinion is superior to those in which they may diametrically oppose. If you want respect, you must also give it.
2. It is your responsibility to understand the course load that YOU are taking on If you cannot handle 18 credit hours, then perhaps you should not be taking 18 credit hours. Some can handle more of certain types of classes relative to others. Setting the bar lower for everyone to appease a small group of students who insist that their time is more valuable than that of their peers or professors won’t do any good nor will it set any realistic expectation of the modern workplace.
3. If you crave excitement and engagement in the classroom, then you must also participate. Be mindful of the professors who teach multiple classes and have several other priorities, both in and out of the classroom, who might have to deal with complacent and distant students who would prefer to learn about the latest Tiktok trend rather than do what they are paying for: study and learn.
Perhaps it is time for students and professors to understand each other. It is time to return to the student-professor relationships we initially had, not the customer-professor relationships being peddled in higher ed.
Kevin Gamble • Apr 11, 2023 at 7:16 am
RE: #2 –
This is a two-way street. It cannot be just on the professor to bring energy into the room. Students must come prepared to engage as well. The reason why many profs get upset and take a lack of energy as boredom or apathy is because that’s exactly what it looks like from our side of the room. There are few worse feelings in this gig than going to class, putting your entire being and every ounce of your energy into your work, and then being met with: students who consistently neglect to complete the assigned homework and are ill-prepared for thoughtful discussion, students constantly staring their phones, students chatting with one another loudly and repeatedly, students sleeping, students refusing to engage in discussions or answer questions, students doing work for other classes, etc. It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting to put up with this on a day-to-day basis, and it compounds over the years. Many profs start off energetic, but get burned out as time passes when there’s no reciprocal energy exchange. I sure know I have gotten burned out over the last 9 years.
If you want your profs to be more energetic and to maintain that enthusiasm through their career, then students must at least try to meet us halfway. At the absolute, very least: show the bare minimum of respect and basic human decency and please put the darn phones away.