Junior Faculty Balancing Act Teaching Part I
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Reference Education -> subcategory College.
Junior Faculty Balancing Act: Teaching, Part I
Summary
A poll on my website surveyed 96 junior faculty members, revealing that over a third believe the most challenging aspect of their role is how time-consuming teaching can be.
How Time-Consuming is Teaching?
Research indicates that professors, regardless of their rank, spend at least 29-30 hours weekly on teaching activities. Junior faculty often face even heavier loads, sometimes dedicating over 30 hours a week, especially if they are teaching new courses. At teaching-focused institutions, this may rise to 50-60 hours weekly.
Tips to Manage Teaching Demands
In "Advice to New Faculty Members," Robert Boice highlights the importance of moderation in teaching. Here are some recommendations:
1. Avoid Overloading Classes: Focus on essential concepts rather than overwhelming students with too much information. The goal is to leave students excited and clear about key points.
2. Embrace Imperfection: It's beneficial to show your thought process rather than striving for perfection. Students appreciate seeing reasoning in action and often respect professors who model curiosity.
3. Simplify and Clarify: Avoid using class time as an information dump. Instead, aim to make complex ideas accessible and engaging.
4. Include Pauses: Allow moments for reflection and questions, letting students digest the material.
5. Prepare Gradually: Adopt the strategy of doing difficult work incrementally. Jot down ideas and expand on them during short breaks to build a comprehensive lesson plan over time.
Conclusion
Try implementing one of these strategies in your teaching this week. Though the transition might seem daunting, it could improve your teaching experience. What do you have to lose?
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Junior Faculty Balancing Act Teaching Part I.
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