College Teaching Deserves Accolades Too

Too often, college professors contribute substantially to their fields of expertise but make lousy teachers. It is time for professors to start being recognized by their college teaching merits as well as their academic contributions.

College Teaching Shouldn't Take Back Seat in Degree Programs

If a student and his or her family spend thousands of dollars to enroll in a college degree program, they deserve high level college teaching. At some of the top universities in the country, students barely see full professors. Instead, they are taught by graduate students with little or no teaching background.

One organization called the American Association of Physics Teachers recognizes this problem and gives an annual award to a physics professor that has made strides to increase the level of college teaching within a university's physics degree program. The 2005 award was given to Gary Gladding, a professor who overhauled his university's beginning physics offering.

Teaching is Emphasized in Online Degree Programs

One type of institution that has increased the focus on teaching and decreased the importance of research is the distance learning college. Online degree programs are often taught by instructors who work or have worked within their field of expertise. They aren't tenured professors, and they aren't expected to contribute academic works to their field. This means that they are primarily evaluated on their teaching skills. Online degree students benefit in this model because their instructors are completely dedicated to their success, instead of being pulled in many different academic directions.

At many distance learning schools that offer streamlined online degree programs, the student is the customer, and the schools work to satisfy their customers. This is a concept that shouldn't be lost in the large research university setting.

Source

• American Association of Physics Teachers

About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is a singer living in Chicago, IL. Having received his B.A. in Government at Harvard, Kirk previously worked as a management consultant.