Contributions from the Field

Encouraging a Positive Perspective among Students
By Kathlene Lechner, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

We will all undoubtedly fall victim to boredom at some time or another throughout the semester. Boredom might creep into our existence while we’re waiting in line at the bookstore, or filing papers, or perhaps when we decide it’s finally time to wash a sink full of dirty dishes. While it’s true that any of these tasks can be accomplished without feeling any real connection with the undertaking, the challenging task of being an effective teaching assistant calls for far deeper involvement. Certainly, boredom should feel out of place in the classroom. Perhaps well-known twentieth century poet William Butler Yeats put it best when he said “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” It’s important to resist merely going through the motions during a teaching assistantship. What follows is some guidance on inspiring pupils and avoiding a bland teaching experience.

First, take the initiative and implement a creative approach to teaching. Try incorporating several teaching techniques for presenting the same topic. The exclusive use of formal teaching methods such as lecturing can be a passive experience for students and may discourage enthusiasm. Instead, more stimulating methods can be combined with traditional techniques to arouse student interest and promote student-instructor interaction. For instance, when students seem indifferent about the subject matter, simple practices such as forming small discussion groups can kindle an exchange of ideas while helping students to understand material through cooperative problem solving. A similar approach is to facilitate a group discussion regarding real world case studies. Such an approach can be used to relate the relevance of the material to current events, or even to students’ developmental or career goals. As an instructor, it is important to encourage critical thinking during these discussions. This can be accomplished by developing provoking questions to ask students that require more than a “yes or no” response. Another way to eliminate tedium is to integrate games into classes. Question-and-answer games can serve as a tool to draw more students to participate. Involve the entire class in clapping when students give a correct answer to a question. Ultimately, employing alternative modes of instruction will help you reach students with various learning styles while motivating more students.

“Theories and goals of education don't matter a whit if you don't consider your students to be human beings.” (Lou Ann Walker)

Always introduce yourself during the first class meeting. This establishes approachability. In addition to simply writing your contact information on the board for students to copy into their notebooks, communicate with your supervisor that you would like it to be included on the course syllabus, if possible. This further demonstrates to students your interest in helping them succeed in the course. Learn how to pronounce all student names correctly; don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. Investing time in establishing rapport with your students and referring to them by name reinforces that you recognize them individually. To successfully foster student/mentor relationships, it is important that students feel valued. Students may assume that they will have little opportunity to develop a relationship with you as the instructor, so simple tactics such as using students’ names emphasizes that you know who they are and are interested in helping them learn. Developing more meaningful relationships can also make it easier to intervene earlier when a student is struggling academically. Keep in mind that having a positive attitude is of supreme importance. Being responsible means keeping appointments and returning graded assignments on time. Emulate the conscientiousness you expect from your students. Ultimately, teaching is about helping students learn and grow. If you show a genuine interest in your students' schoolwork and progress, students are more likely to listen to you and respond during class time and benefit from that knowledge thereafter.

Everyday life may bring us some situations in which boredom is inescapable. However, boredom is a culprit that can be easily conquered in the teaching world. Both teachers and students will reap the benefits of employing the practices reviewed here. Remember, maintaining a professional relationship with your class does not mean sacrificing a sense of humor!