Annette, I agree that teacher popularity is heavily influenced by social skills. But I generally believe these skills can be developed and applied where appropriate. Smiling, looking a student in the eye, responding in a supportive manner, and acting generally "approachable" are intentional behaviors -- all under the instructor's control (if she/he chooses to focus on them). And they can be made to feel more "natural" through motivated practice. Those of us who act less approachable and who maintain a professional distance from our students may feel comfortable that our students are learning at a high level. However we run the risk of suffering on our course evaluations -- the available research indicates that students under such instructors will report relatively negative affect (dislike of the teacher, attributing negative traits to the teacher) and even will indicate that they have learned less in such classes. Given what I have learned about this issue, I think it is sensible for us to maintain our high standards and challenging assignments -- but while doing so, work on developing skills that make us appear friendly, caring, and approachable. It's a winning combination: our students learn a lot and we will be popular with them (hence, positive applause meter scores go into our tenure/promotion files). Those interested in this topic might try a PsycINFO search using "teacher immediacy" as a starting point. Articles like the following will come up:
Communication Monographs Vol. 71, No. 2, June 2004, pp. 184-207 A Meta-Analytical Review of the Relationship between Teacher Immediacy and Student Learning Paul L. Witt, Lawrence R. Wheeless & Mike Allen --Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] We're back to considering easy and difficult personalities, as in the previous discussion we've been having. Popularity is largely a function of social skills and let's face it, by the time people get to teaching age, they either have them or they don't; and even if they don't I don't believe there is a whole lot people can do to improve that--I'm not saying there's nothing you can do, but just not a whole lot. What makes a person popular can be a whole slew of things including ease or difficulty of material--most people who teach stats or biopsych can vocally attest to that! Or ease of difficulty of a particular person's grading scheme, etc. Too complicated to compensate people based only on teaching evals. Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. -- ___________________________________________________________________ David E. Campbell, Ph.D. [email protected] http://www.humboldt.edu/~campbell/psyc.htm --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
