Discussion Questions for Sept 1

• Does years of experience improve teaching ability or is it an inherant ability that makes one a good teacher?

• Does a good teacher need to be really outgoing?

• If a teacher teaches their own personal opinion about a topic, subject, or theory, are they being a good teacher? Do good teachers only teach the facts and leave out their own personal opinions. Should their be a division, or is it impossible to teach without imposing your own personal beleifs and opinions?

• Does a good teacher need to be able to identify with students who have very diverse backgrounds?

• Should teachers be concerned about students getting to know each other in classes, (such as by including icebreakers as part of the introduction to the course)?

• How does a good teacher determine when to be flexible with assignments and
  when to stick with the original plan?

• How can a good teacher effectively keep control over his or her class, while still maintaining a level of fairness and respect to his or her students?

• Does a good teacher need to be 'dedicated to the cause' or really have to care about teaching?

• I believe that a "good teacher" should be "available" to help students understand the material.  Sometimes a single student can show up for office hours all the time for help.  Trying to be a good teacher, you want to help but the student soon drains you.  How do you help the student without spending an overly excessive amount of time on him/her and without making them feel like you are blowing them off?

  • Does being a good teacher include spending a large amount of time helping students outside of the classroom (i.e. extended or extra office hours, study sessions, etc,) or should a good teacher know when to draw the boundaries for his or her time, and leave much of the extra stuff to their TA’s?

• What type of ethical considerations go into good teaching, and should a good teacher develop his or her own code of ethics before he or she even steps into a classroom?

• Are good grades indicative of good teaching?

• Shouldn't a good teacher be someone who wants to transfer knowledge rather than someone who is only teaching for the paycheck, retirement or college credit?