Perhaps we need to break this down a bit by class level.
Freshman and mayhap Sophomores need teachers. But teachers who will
wean them away from passive learners who depend upon teachers to
motivate, excite them about the subject, buffer their self-esteem to
active learners who take total responsibility for their own education.
In the lower division, especially at the Freshman level, their is the
need for good pedagogy and all that entails: discussions, activities,
multimedia. affirmations, motivation, encouragement, a demand for
excellence. All things that a excellent high school teacher who has
taken all the Ed/Psych and Methods classes would do.
Of course an excellence is the knowledge base of the subject is also
necessary but IMHO, in the lower divisions methodology motivates,
encourages, and keeps kids in school and turned onto the subject matter.
Now, by the time the student is a Junior that should be well on their
way to taking totally responsibility for their own learning. It is at
this level that the PhD really makes a difference. By this time the
student should be self motivated and subject oriented. By this time
the student should be able to withstand PowerPoint presentation that
are simultaneously shown on the screen and read to them along with
the handout of slides.
So, do PhDs make better teachers? Depends on who and what they are
teaching.
Raymond Rogoway
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
And I've retired, no papers in a heap.
Now in the mornings I can sleep
or walk those woods so dark and deep.
apologies to Robert Frost
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