What makes a good teacher? I think that there are a lot of things that
we could include here, but high on the list is that the students learned
something. I get very high instructional assessment ratings but wonder
more and more if my students really have any depth of knowledge that
they are carrying on to the next class.

In my opinion, if we aren't assessing what the students are learning, we
can't tell if good teaching has occurred or not.

I have colleagues that don't feel that way. They feel if they give good
lectures then it is up to the students to learn the material...whatever
it takes.

The best book on this subject I have found is, "What the Best College
Teachers Do." I read that book at least once a year.

On 8/27/09, Kate wrote:
> Not that this is right, but major universities do not reward
> professors for good teaching. It's not how it works. Research dollars
> are the key, in science and engineering, anyway. When the people
> teaching fight over who gets to NOT teach, a communication class
> isn't going to help. JMO, and yes, I have witnessed several
> professors griping about teaching one class, once a year (not once a
> semester).
>
> On 8/26/09, sspil wrote:
>> It's not just teachers who don't have knowledge, it those who
>> can't communicate it to others that are a problem as well. I've
>> run into many very knowledgeable people who were very bad
>> teachers. Just because you know your subject, doesn't mean you
>> can communicate it to others. Some of the most brilliant people
>> in their field are horrid teachers. Perhaps they should require
>> all those who plan to teach at a university to take a class on
>> communication skills.

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