One issue that seems to be a topic of conversation for some Morningside students is Are if Tenured Professors out of touch with students. This conversation has stemmed from many different conversations when people feel the professors aren’t “Modern” or “With the times” enough. These conversations seem to be a topic that some people feel passionate about but also take the moderate approach to this question.
I talked to three different Morningside Students about this issue. Some of the people I interviewed would like to remain anonymous. I will refer to them and Student 1,2,3. All three of them are in their second year here at Morningside University.
When talking to Student #1 and asked if they thinks some longer teaching professors are out of date here was her response “I’d say most are but not all of them.” Student number #3 had something similar to say about this question “I do think they are because they’ve been teaching for so long. They can be stuck in their way’s.” Both feel passionate about his issue and have similar responses. Perhaps the most interesting answer comes from student #2, “I believe it depends on the professor themselves.” She also goes onto say “If a professor works to communicate and understand their students, then they are not outreach.” In the end student #2 had this to say about whether or not a professor succeeds in their findings “If a professor works to communicate and understand their students, and fails, I don’t believe they are out of touch either, because their attempt may be seen as important and/or endearing.”
Student #2 takes the more descriptive and realistic approach to the questions offering more ways that she feels make them out of reach. Student #2 offers a little more grace with her answer feeling that if they try and try then they are ok, but she finishes off with “However, if a tenured professor makes no attempt to communicate and understand their students, or are unwilling to make and attempt at all, then I believe they are indeed out of touch.” So, student number #2 thinks the action of trying to modernize with their students to make them more in the loop of things rather than if they don’t try then they’re out of touch and that is a very fair assumption.
My last question to these three was “What should they do to change?” All three students offered some very helpful feedback and some examples.
Student #1 believes that they should have the students come up with some ideas for them and allow them to incorporate them into their class at some point. Student number #2 states “Communication with students is very important.” It’s crucial that there is a line of communication as that is what we are preached to about but seem to have some people that never respond or reach out at all. Finally, Student #3 mainly touched on the use of Technology and incorporating it more.
Student #2 uses a very helpful example that I believe everyone can learn from. Student #2 goes on to talk about how they have a professor (tenure is unknown) that always in updating her course plans and ask for the student’s feedback. But student number #2 expresses that it’s the willingness to take her students feedback and change that makes her a great professor.
Lastly, before leaving them I asked if they had any further comments. Two students said no but Student #2 talked about even thought they may fail at reaching out to students it’s the “Willingness to change” that is the key factor to “Being in touch with their students”.
This was not to shun any professor but to offer Ideas on what they need to do to change and that they can do to make their students feel more comfortable. In High School it’s all about technology this and that and communication and being preached to having an open mind and then we head to college where sometimes it feels like those things aren’t priorities anymore and aren’t followed.Overall, it was great discussions with these three students, and they all feel hopeful that a willingness to change and adapt their lessons to more modern students is the key to having that successful course plan and a great college experience.
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