Cana Fuest, PhD Candidate

Recently, someone in my family made the comment, “It seems kind of funny to have to learn how to teach, like that should be intuitive.” While I agree that some people seem naturally gifted as teachers, many others teach but do not put much thought into the scholarship of teaching and learning. I hear my kids comment on the teachers that are “good” and those that just run a class and don’t really seem to care. During my own career as a student, I have sat through boring classes where I couldn’t remember anything afterward, and outstanding classes that have greatly impacted my life.

What makes these classes different?

The answer might be that the teacher had a good personality, or was otherwise skilled at entertaining the class. But I think it has more to do with the planning and care that went into structuring the course to begin with, combined with a general sense of respect and consistent expectations. From my own experience, good teaching requires a lot of thought and strategy. The courses that I have felt good about required constant revisions and creativity. Additionally, students will remember what they do much better than what they hear.

What do you think makes “good” teaching?