Instructional Development Report. Outstanding Teachers: How Do UND Students Describe Them?

• Main Author: Jacobson, Carol R
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Office of Instructional Development, Box 8161, University Station, Grand Forks, ND 1982
• Subjects: College Faculty; College Students; Communication Skills; Higher Education; Individual Characteristics; Institutional Research; Knowledge Level; Student Attitudes; Student Evaluation of Teacher Performance; Student Teacher Relationship; Teacher Characteristics; Teacher Effectiveness; Teacher Role; Teaching Methods; University of North Dakota

Characteristics of outstanding faculty are considered, based on descriptions provided by 46 University of North Dakota students who were nominated for the university's 1982 Outstanding Teacher Awards. Based on descriptions in the students' own words, 124 separate characteristics were identified, and categorized as follows: teacher-student relationships, knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject matter, teaching strategies, communication skills, and the teacher as a person. Teacher-student relationships received the most comments. Students' own relationships with teachers were valued more highly than a teacher's actual performance in the classroom. Students want teachers to be sensitive to them as individuals as well as students, and to be interested in their academic and nonacademic growth. According to the students, an outstanding teacher establishes a relationship with students that motivates and excites them about the subject matter and encourages intellectual thinking and academic discipline. Students want to be made aware of changes, new discoveries, public issues, and criticisms regarding the subject matter, and want teachers to spend time preparing and organizing class instruction and searching for new and interesting ways to present the subject. Students appreciate effective teaching skills appropriate to the content, objectives, and clients. Outstanding teachers feel a responsibility toward education, are continually learning and expanding beyond their fields, and are working for quality teaching and learning inside and outside the university. Specific student comments are appended. (SW)