Teaching in university is not training, but expanding the intellectual horizons, ability to think & cross fertilize, and imparting education to mature scholarly minds. Only few teachers at the university level can attain the status of a great educator. What skills and abilities should a person possess and focus on so as to be a great university teacher?
Hate to answer this way... But I truly believe that... 'It depends'. WHO are my students? Are they professionals coming back to school to improve their career possibilities?? Are they masters seekers who have never 'been in the field'?? My students define the priorities for me. To be most effective, I need to provide what is needed in a way that is easiest to assimilate by the audience. So.. Step 1... Know my students (I just completed a 'pre-class questionnaire' yesterday from a professor who wants to know who I am before I head to the first class..) SHE WILL BE EFFECTIVE & I'm excited to learn.
Communications. And by that, I mean the ability to communicate with students in different ways, and to read students to understand how students are receiving the communications. The best instructors are capable of encouraging students and actually teaching students to learn. When the students get beyond the "Is this going to be on the test" mentality, they can really start to understand learning and the learning process: and it takes quality communications skills to help students reach this point.
I feel the following areas to be focused on by a great university teacher:
1. Subject mastery
2. Continuously updating syllabi and own knowledge
3. Ability to communicate flawlessly
4. Intertwine research with teaching
5. Ability to inspire students' learning by connecting the subject with their goals
Hello
skilled
update of the material to study
constructivist strategies
ethics
seriousness in evaluations
ingrid
I endorse all the above responses and can only add the ability to keep students motivated and engaged in learning towards achieving learning outcomes, which should include the integration of technology.
Best,
Debra
1.Research oriented
2.All levels students involvement
3.Ready to laugh at oneself with students
4.Doing what ought to be done without thinking like or dislikes
5.Ability to ask questions
1.High communication ability so that he/she will be able to draw student attention into learning the subject materials effectively.
2.A supreme mastery on subject materials so that he/she attracts students attentions as a professional in the fields he/she is going to instruct.
3.Being familiar with new educational technologies in the field , also the ability to integrate and utilize these technologies into making new educatiobal contents.
4.Having research skills in which utilizes students favourites and skills in their interested areas,also to effectively familiarize them with their potential and show them their weakenings or strength points.
1. Expertise / competence
2. Leadership
3. Role model
4. Communication skills
5. Practical and research oriented teaching
1. He/she should be knowledgeable in area of specialty.
2. Should have good presentation /communication skills
3. Should have good lecturer -student relationship.
4. Should have good networking attitudes.
5. Should have good time management to be able to perform his /her responsibilities at place of work, family, and to God.
Definitely expertise in the subject and good communication skills. For teaching, expertise is not enough if one does not have the ability to transmit knowledge effectively
from a students point of view: 1) know your audience (where are they coming from, why are they in your lecture, where are they going to) 2) subject expertise (research based, critical inquiry of field of study WITH students) 3) basics in pedagogy and methodology (what to teach when and how) 4) being approachable 5) walk the talk
[Can I just say that in my 1st time round I saw a lot of uni teaching staff struggling with #3 as it wasn't their field of expertise? Please, if you feel you struggle ask a colleague from a School of Education somewhere close to you. I doubt they'll turn away. Stepping up to the challenge will make such an impact on your teaching! Thank you.]
Julie, your list is indeed impressive. I agree that #3 is difficult and even experienced people struggle in this regard often. Also, the basics change overtime. Today's gen Y does not take notes, and believes in instant, digestible learning, with or without rigor. Especially in the management field, they do not much appreciate learning conceptualization ability and want the lecture to be much simpler. Often they like industry people to teach them whose conceptualization ability is mostly wanting as they are not as holistic as a learned academic could be. Thanks for your input. Much appreciated.
1. Sensitivity and understanding of student learning needs and ability to self reflect on teaching practice.
2. Specialised knowledge, expertise and industry experience.
3. Ability to provide clarity and confidence in the materials being presented.
4. Maintaining currency in knowledge and research in area(s) of specialisation(s).
5. Honesty, integrity and ability to acknowledge, reflect and challenge self.
Additionally to what has been written: Getting the students involved in the teaching process by creating cognitive conflicts. In order to solve problems they understand the need to gain knowledge.
I would like to add to all the above, the ability and experience to foresee students' potential for future development so as to make them believe in themselves, set goals and strive towards their achievement.
Aaagree with all of the above especially in relation to having the expertise to communicate your subject in an accessible format. That also means knwoing your audience.The best teachers are also able to inspire and engage.
I agree with most of the respondents that competence must be on the list. However, I would add building trust with students as well. Without competence AND trust, an educator will not be viewed as credible by his/her students. Without credibility, it will be difficult for any educator to communicate and create knowledge with students in the learning environment.
Hate to answer this way... But I truly believe that... 'It depends'. WHO are my students? Are they professionals coming back to school to improve their career possibilities?? Are they masters seekers who have never 'been in the field'?? My students define the priorities for me. To be most effective, I need to provide what is needed in a way that is easiest to assimilate by the audience. So.. Step 1... Know my students (I just completed a 'pre-class questionnaire' yesterday from a professor who wants to know who I am before I head to the first class..) SHE WILL BE EFFECTIVE & I'm excited to learn.
(I cannot place these in order of importance because I believe they are all equally important.) 1. Targeted and timely feedback to maintain the students' interest in what you are teaching, and encourage them to continue learning. 2. Keep your material up-to-date. If you don't care, they won't care. 3. Be honest. If you don't know an answer, admit it and let the student/s know you will find out and get back to him/her/them. Then, do it! 4. Set high expectations for your students, and give them reasons to meet them. 5. Love what you do! If you feel the fire dwindling to a flicker in your belly, become certified to teach a new course, take a class yourself, or consider a sabbatical. Teaching is not just a job. You're playing a part in your students' future.
Must be aware of what is required from the study , education and what skills needed by the learner and therefore must be determined the potential of the researcher, learner and what it aims to in addition to the skills of the teacher in the delivery of experiences through the diversity of teaching methods....
1. Lifelong learner
2. interested in teaching and learning with students
3. good communicator
4. builds good relationships with students
4. provides learning that is relevant to the field
Five skills essential for a university teacher
1. continuity in research contribution.
2. Developing students.
3. Participation and interaction.
4. communication skill.
5. Passion for learning and teaching.
Good listener
Able to guide students
Objectively assess students
Ensures learning takes place
In my opinion the five most important qualities of a great university teacher are;
1) Being a continuous learning himself or herself
2) Being able to develop a rapport with students
3) Continuously updating class material
4) Some industry experience or close association to ensure material is practical
5) Energy and passion
My list is similar to other. Research is important but when it comes comes to teaching research could equate to industry depending on discipline.
I would say:
1) To be a conscious listener - to all students - consistently. Pastoral care is perhaps more important now than ever before.
2) To see beyond the grading criterion and think 'bigger' than just the academic framework/assessment.
3) To see and encourage the potential in student candidates, assisting in helping them to realise their own goals.
4) To provide detailed and 'meaningful' feedback to their students, that is not just criteria driven.
5) To be supportive when mistakes are made (or if a student were to fail an assessment), but to once again addressing the student's future plans and mapping achievement and opportunities beyond the lecture room.
1. Empathetic
2. Having an interest in who the learners are.
3. Having the know-how to structure the learning environment including assessments to set students up for success.
4.A keen interest in teaching as well as the subject being taught and bringing the research into the teaching context.
5. Reflective about your teaching practice and implementing continuous improvements
In our research it emerged that for students there were three categories that stood out from their memorable or extraordinary teachers:
1) pedagogical link
2) professional training
3) didactic knowledge
But in the analysis of his autobiographies there were many more, among which I highlight: commitment, doing more than what is expected of them, recovering the teachings of their mentors, etc. We could synthesize it in his passion for teaching.
As indicated by earlier suggestions, I take myself as a lecturer with specific qualities, namely:
1] Humility - Ubuntu because I see myself in the service of my students and university at large as a human being providing excellent teaching opportunities
2] Integrity- - my word is my honor, be consistent with all colleagues and students
3] Professionalism - act in professional manner through an open-door-policy to all student regardless of race, religion, class, or sex.
4] Fairness - treat all students with respect or teach respect.
There are more qualities but the list is never ending.
1- communication skills
2- integrity, fairness and professional
3- research continuation
4- patient
5- socially active
I guess
My answer to this question are these:
1. Subject matter competency
2. Communication skills
3. A clear calling to teach/passion for the job
4. Patience/empathy
5. Creativity/imagination
1. A good teacher must be inspirational (Check all the great teachers in history)
2. A good teacher should continue to improve him/herself - "A lamp can only light another lamp when it continues to burn in its own flame".
3. Fairness
4. Good communication skills
5. Empathy
The ideal qualities required for a good university teacher are many. While selecting teachers for university level teaching, the recruitment body must have some mechanism to ascertain that the new incumbents have these qualities. In my opinion, the following five qualities are important.
- Passion for teaching
- Love of students
- Communication and oratory skills
- Dynamism
- Motivational skills
1. First the teacher should take care of the students future development procedure.
2. Taking care of students perception, values, beliefs etc and if possible try to change at best possible manner.
3. Try to make them understand the text in their own language with their day to day life example.
4. Take extra care for the back benchers, so that they become the global first benchers.
5. Be a part of them not as a teacher but as a friend but with dignity.
Not a top five qualities, just something to keep in mind : most of university teachers had known nothing else than university. Most students will made their life outside the university. So, maybe that the ability for a university teacher to be aware of the "real life" and how what he teaches fits with it is also very important.
Top Five Qualities of a Great University Teacher :-
- The ability to stimulate
- social skills
- communication skills
- Persuasion
- Ability to inspire
1. Passionate communication
2. Excellent questioning
3. Andrological competence
4. Desire for student introspection & keen bility to enable student to connect personal story/background/skills/desires to communicated content
4. Desire for student introspection & keen ability to enable student to connect personal story/background/skills/desires/culture to communicated content)
To me..
1. Should be subject matter expert.
2. Empathy.
3. Motivational skills.
4. Fairness
5. Good listener.
Tq
Though the list is long but to me a teacher should
have PASSION for teaching and research
be A GUD HUMAN BEING
be A GREAT MOTIVATOR
be A CREATIVE and PROLIFIC THINKER
EXPERIMENT WITH NEW IDEAS
and above all should always remember that more than anyone else WE THE TEACHERS ARE SHAPING THE GENERATIONS.
For me a university teacher’s job is NOT like a primary/secondary techers job where you are expected ti deliver a curriculum with not much much importance to the thought whether your student’s have understood what you have delivered! A university teachers job differs according to the university s/he is in, the discipline s/he teaches, and the research s/he carries out!
Motivate students to be their best and have the ability to explain even the most difficult subject in an understandable way. I had a biochemistry teacher like that and he was the best professor ever.
Among the plethora of qualities my top five in decreasing order would be as follows:...
1. Must have mastery of content area and be confident (not arrogant)...
2. Although in contemporary times, it may seem old fashioned, s(he) should still be a "sage on the stage"--a benevolent "guru"...
3. Must be inspirational and empathetic...
4. Must be a life-long learner...
5. Must not be disciplinary parochial...
Beyond competences, to be a servant leader : serving to lead & leading to serve
Acquire skills
Instigate innovative thoughts
Share knowledge to students in developing their skills
Teaching of real-life experience for empowering students
Make students to beware of social responsibilities
Being a teacher at the university needs some qualities like integrity, friendliness, love to student, love to teaching as a profession.
That's a complex question because of the definition of "University Teacher." In many cases, the faculty member at a university is there primarily to research and advance knowledge, and teaching is only one part of their goal and purpose at the university. In other cases, the university exists primarily to train students in specific skills and abilities related to the topics that are taught there. Without knowing more about the individual setting, a good, clear answer can't really be obtained. That said, in either case, the ability to effectively communicate would certainly be one of the top five qualities required.
Teacher authenticity! I am researching authenticity in an empirical context at a German HEI. Initial results of my quasi-experiments show that highly perceived teacher authenticity from the students' point of view improves their learning outcomes; in my case, those learning outcomes are affective. It goes hand in hand with role model investigations. You may check the article of De Bruyckere & Kirschner (2017), who developed some scales in order to measure teacher authenticity: https://www.cogentoa.com/article/10.1080/2331186X.2017.1354573.pdf
Another suggestion is the teacher's ability to create an interactive learning environment. "Experiential teaching" is the keyword to go for in this context.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Cognitive Science
- Thinking