Collegiate Times

Dieter Seltzer

While many people register for classes, they consider what type of professor will teach the curriculum.

Some students prefer professors who give them room to learn in their own ways, with little direction concerning assignments. These professors typically assign only a few grades during the semester, while providing students ample time to complete assignments. 

I, on the other hand, prefer a different, more rigid, class structure. Education makes more sense this way and allows me to learn more. 

Professors with a relaxed teaching method often ask broad questions on tests and assign projects with a multitude of potential topics and methods, giving students freedom and room to strengthen their argumentative skills. 

But when professors give clear directions for assignments and test students on specific content from class, they too help develop students' abilities. And students are also able to prove that they interacted with class materials. Isn't the whole point of choosing certain classes to learn specific content on a topic?

Furthermore, I think rigid professors are more effective teachers, at least in my experience. Listening to a professor lecture while taking notes on the key points is the best way I learn. When professors turn a discussion to the class, it often goes off-topic, and students only talk to receive participation points. 

I am also more successful in a class with multiple, coordinated assignments. In classes that require only a few assignments, overall grades take big hits. Instead, when many assignments are scheduled throughout the year, which go along with readings and lectures, students can interact with the content. This allows them to learn more since they are given more opportunities to prove they understand the content. Also, if a student doesn't score well on one assignment, it isn't as big of a deal as in a class with less assignments. 

In addition, I am a college student, and therefore very busy, so I tend to procrastinate on much of my schoolwork because the organizations I am involved in oftentimes take priority. So when a professor gives me weeks to work on a big project, the time typically goes to waste. But when weekly or bi-weekly assignments are due, I don't slack off. Rather, I work on these consistently throughout the semester, taking a lot of stress out of my life. 

Overall, I prefer professors who are organized and give clear directions. Balancing workloads from five to six classes is a tough job. Specific instructions from professors offer students a better chance to succeed in the classroom, further preparing them for the workforce they will inevitably enter in coming years. 

Continue Reading: 12 Next » 

A version of this article appeared in the Jan 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.