Teaching and Learning in the Literature

Chronicle “Point of View”: “Tired” Professors Can be Rejuvenated

While we’d never use the term “tired” to describe the professors here at USA (although all of us at one time or another might feel that way!), an article in the March 7, 2008 issue of the Chronicle offered more than a dozen ways to rejuvenate those professors that it describes as “just not teaching as effectively as they did in the past or could do in the future.”

Peter Seldin, a distinguished professor emeritus of Management at Pace University, makes several suggestions for how a college or university might do this.

First he suggests that institutions provide opportunities for reflection. This can be done by organizing structured conversations among senior faculty members and asking open-ended questions such as:

• What has been your most significant teaching accomplishment?
• Which teaching method do you use most effectively? Least effectively?
• How would you describe  your attitude toward teaching? 
• Has it changed in recent years? In what ways?
• What one thing would you most like to improve about your teaching?
• How do you motivate superstar students?
• How do you motivate those who are struggling?

In addition to these structured conversations, Seldin makes several other suggestions that institutions can use to rejuvenate faculty, such as establishing mentoring programs, helping faculty give something back, or stimulating interdisciplinary or team teaching.

His most promising suggestion, however, is for institutions to offer training and information that can help faculty modify their instructional styles and methods.  Seldin also suggests that programs might be offered on topics such as assigning grades, conducting discussions, and reducing students’ feelings of anonymity, as well as workshops on the effective use of instructional technology, course design, service-learning, and small group instruction.

You might be thinking that PETAL already does most of those things, and you are correct, but many faculty perceive PETAL’s role to be focused on new faculty rather than those who have been teaching for a long time.

If you find yourself feeling tired, or just like you’re in a teaching rut, we invite you to take a look at what we’re doing here at PETAL.  We offer many programs and workshops in addition to our New Faculty Seminars, and experienced faculty are always welcome at those as well.

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