After nearly two decades in higher education as a faculty member and based on my experiences and research, here is what I believe to be the ingredients for good learning experiences and great teaching.
First and foremost, teaching/learning is not a solo sport; it is a team effort--a contact sport.
The professor must bring:
- Knowledge of content
- Genuine concern and respect for students
- The three A’s: Availability, Accessibility, and Affability
- Attention to details and organizational skills
- Active learning assignments that connect to learning goals
- Equitable grading and transparency in same
- Level playing field among classmates
- Desire to coach/mentor students
- Willingness to go above the call of duty
The students must bring:
- A desire to learn
- Respect for professor and classmates
- A willingness to prepare for class, put in the required time and pull their weight
- Willingness to keep an open mind and search for alternative solutions to a problem
- Critical thinking skills
- Desire to contribute to peer knowledge
- Motivation to go “above the call of duty”