Maine Perspective Front Page
Spotlight on College Teaching
A BearWorks Initiative
Feb. 24, 30 new faculty gathered on campus to learn from four colleagues who joined the University of Maine teaching community within the last few years. The discussion explored the theme, "I Wish I'd Known," with a dynamic panel exchanging tips and strategies for success at the start of a university teaching career.
Panelists included Eric Landis, Rick Borgman, Ivan Manev and Beth Wiemann, representing a range of disciplines and teaching responsibilities.
Here is some of the best advice from the panelists, useful for college professors in any phase of their career:
- Remember who knows everything - the administrative assistants in your department. Better yet, on the rare occasion when they are at a loss to help you, they always know who can.
- No matter what you do, some students will love you and some students will hate you. Don't make life decisions based upon either extreme.
- Invite students into the discussion of what's going wrong when a class isn't working the way you like. You will be surprised and encouraged by the insights they provide.
- Focus on the big picture in your teaching. Most of the little facts will be forgotten weeks or months after the course ends. What are the few broad main ideas you want students to carry away forever? Talk about those ideas again and again.
- Anyone who says you should leave your research agenda at the classroom door is wrong - students delight in seeing their professor's passions, as long as that content doesn't take precedence over the core class content.
- Don't deny yourself the joys of this job - getting to know students well is the biggest delight in college teaching.
We might add another delight not to be denied is to learn from colleagues - and it was clear new faculty enjoyed hearing the advice of colleagues who are thriving as teachers at UMaine.
Instructional Development Upcoming Events
"Learning Large: Strategies From Master Teachers of Large Lecture Courses," a panel discussion, noon-1:30 p.m., March 24, 202 Shibles Hall. All welcome. Refreshments.
"Wisdom, Renewal, and Respect: Strategies for Mentoring Senior Faculty," a panel discussion for deans, chairs and directors, noon-1:30 p.m., April 27, Palmer Lounge. All welcome. Refreshments.