Campus Chatter

It’s rare to spend a day on campus and not hear students rave or rant about their professors. With many different teaching styles and philosophies, The Scribe asked students to identify what makes a good teacher and what kind of professors hold them back.

Jared Knight

Senior, Finance

What are some of the best qualities a professor can have?

I really like very insightful and in-depth teachers that really fully grasp the material.

Is there a particular teaching style you like?

I think a good blend of visual, as far as PowerPoint, as well as non-visual helps a lot. I think it helps to have – not a teacher that only relies on PowerPoint notes and only follows those.

Luke Spriggs

Freshman, Engineering

What are some of the best qualities a professor can have?

They actually try and get to know you; they’re more personal.

Do you have a professor with a particular teaching style you like?

He makes it funny, and he actually, instead of making it dull and boring, lightens up the room.

Do you have any professor pet peeves?

If they just write on the chalkboard directly out of the book, if they just copy that. Give it to me in English, not whatever the subject is.

Blake Browning

Senior, Nursing

What are some of the best qualities a professor can have?

Organization and professionalism.

Is there a particular teaching style you like?

I like when they’re visual, when they give a variety of teaching methods. If they just sit there and lecture the whole class without any PowerPoints, it doesn’t do me any good.

Do you have any professor pet peeves?

Not being prepared for class. Telling me how we learn best. I had a professor tell us that she read a study about how no one learns when they use PowerPoint, so she didn’t use PowerPoints the entire semester. It was the stupidest thing I ever heard.

Dan Decker

Freshman, Mechanical Engineering

What are some of the best qualities a professor can have?

I like a professor that loves what they’re doing, because I can see that, and it motivates me to love what I’m doing too. Also, a professor that kind of likes to have fun.

Do you have any professor pet peeves?

I don’t like when professors expect you to not be understanding the material. I like it when they see you as someone intelligent enough to pick it up, but at the same time they just want to work with you to get it. I’ve had a professor who thought the whole class was clueless, so he’d kind of baby us up and treat us like that and we wouldn’t get anywhere. I guess, a respect for the intellect of the students they’re teaching.