One of the things that I have tried to do as a professor is to initiate certain best practices I have seen in the classroom and tailor them for my own classes. There have been several professors I have over the years in all of my degree programs at Florida, USC, and Tennessee that I can draw on for inspiration for my teaching practices.
I have heard feedback from fellow colleagues, professors, and students over the years about my classes. When I first started teaching at Tennessee, I was trying to figure out all that worked for me as a professor. I tried to be professional and serious to follow what was expected of me as a PhD student and what a “professor” was supposed to be in the classroom. After the first year, I realized that I can still do this – but in my own way.
There are times where people have said – I found myself as a person in this location or at this time period. I have to say that I believe I have found myself as a professor at the University of Louisville. I am able to teach the students all about strategic communications and social media – but also put in my own references and personality to the mix. So yes, there is a lot of discussions on coffee and Angry Birds.
I think it also comes down to the classroom culture you build and sustain as well. So, how do you create a successful classroom culture? Here are some of my tips I have learned over the years that has worked for me as a professor, especially in my social media classes:
- Provide students a place to ask questions: When I talk about place, I don’t mean office hours. This can be a Google+ Hangout session for virtual office hours or updates on social media. It’s about approaching and interacting with them in their own space.
- Give them the skills that they need to be successful in and out of the classroom: A role of a professor is one of a teacher, but also a colleague after they leave your classroom and graduate. I tell my students I am a tweet, email, or phone call away – but I also remind them my office door is always open for them to come back and visit.
- Take on the role of a coach: I tell my students all the time, especially in my social media class, that this will probably be the hardest class you will take in the semester or in college. Some believe me, but others realize near the end of the semester that this is true. However, it’s about inspiring and reinforcing the idea of doing a little bit of work each day – like athletes do when they are training in their sports. As a professor, your role is to make sure you provide the best opportunities for your students to succeed.
- Share stories and messages from others: This is why I have so many guest speakers in my class – it’s about providing opportunities to share stories, best practices, and insights on the field for the students from a different light. Teaching is like parenting in so many ways – it’s one thing if you say it, but another if someone else does and reinforces what you have said. It’s key to have this balance. First and foremost – especially when it comes to social media – it’s about the social aspect.
- Protect and encourage the classroom culture: Like businesses, classrooms have a certain culture and personality to them. Treat your classroom like this and think about what would be the type of class that you feel would produce the best work and ideas from the students. I always try to keep things upbeat, encouraging, and fun for the class. Yes, there is a lot of work to be done, but if you have the right attitude and mindset, then it doesn’t appear to be work.
- Create memorable experiences: Not only with the content you are sharing, but what are the lectures, speakers, and overall atmosphere you have created in the class that lends itself to be a memorable experience? Is it to make a networking connection with a speaker that leads to an internship? What about a job? This is what I am trying to do as we finish up the semester in my social media class. The final presentations will be one of these experiences – more like a celebration for a semester of hard work and dedication. These are experiences that as a student, I would have loved to have experienced.
Overall, I feel that teaching has been such a rewarding part of what I do as a professor. I am very fortunate to have current and past students who have entered my classroom and have left with the tools and knowledge they need to be successful in their careers. For me, that is what really matters. 🙂
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
Karen
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