Inevitably, as the new year starts, there are plenty of newly minted university professors out there who need to find their feet. This is particularly pertinent for those heading into the teaching route. It is natural for new teachers to feel a degree of nervousness coupled with excitement as they set about their new roles. Naturally, their first port of call is going to be their university staff. These are the people who know the ropes, and can put them to good use. This is especially important in this early phase as the new professor ventures into uncharted territory.
What is your view of your professor?
There are several answers to this question. You may feel overly generous, thinking of your professor in the highest of praise. Alternatively, you may feel that they are not up to the mark, and need educating themselves as to what makes a good teacher. Naturally, you may feel a mixture of both. What is important is that you begin the process thinking clearly, and without any hard feelings. The way to achieve this is by taking the time to find a balance between both views. This is often difficult to do, especially in the early stages of your teaching career. So, how about you?
The Importance Of Feedback
It is never easy getting feedback, regardless of whether it is good or bad. For a newly minted professor, the process is going to be even more harrowing. You are going to have to put yourself out there, and take the feedback you get, good or bad. This is extremely important because you are going to have to use this feedback to improve your work. A lack of feedback can lead to a lack of improvement, and a vicious circle of poor assessment and teaching continues. It is a cycle that is undesirable in the scheme of things. So, how about you?
Getting feedback is important, but it is often difficult to get the kind of feedback that you need. You may have a whole class of students that you have taught for years, but have never had the opportunity to assess your teaching. Fortunately, there is an easy way to fix this. What you need to do is ask for more detailed feedback from specific individuals. This way, you will have the balance of both positive and negative feedback. What is important is that you identify the aspects of your teaching that you feel you could improve upon, and put in the necessary effort to do so.