How to be a charasmatic Lecturer

Do I think I am a charismatic lecturer? No. Do you think I am a good lecturer? Maybe.

Whenever I try to establish myself as a good lecturer, my mind voyages back to my memories as a student. From school to college, the art forms of the teachers and lecturers were as different as they come. The clear variation in their methodology was what intrigued me. If I ask myself if they were all very efficient at what they do, I would surely hesitate. But if I ask myself if I respect them and if they tried their best to disseminate the knowledge they had, the hesitation would surely subside. Then I would think, what kind of lecturer would I become, what pedagogy would I choose, what would be my technique, my special move if you will. I would then think if I could be a capable and charismatic lecturer, not only the one who could communicate knowledge but also the one who is respected.

Considering the vastness of techniques that I have confronted, I believe some surely stand out as a superior versions. Being a student, there is indeed a choice to be made here. But the thing is, there is never a clear distinction as to which one method is better. Although the techniques and methods needed to teach one subject will vastly differ from others, here is a general summary of what I think makes a charismatic lecturer

1.??????Teaching Method

There are those lecturers who limit the scope of their subject to the reference book, and others who would just go through the theories and deal more with the application. Even if they bring some crazy information from the internet, or a real-world example, it would make things that much clearer. It would also mean that the teacher has done their homework. At the end of the semester, most of the students will still rely on the books to give their finals, i.e. they have to study the book either way.

2.?????Frequent Performance evaluation

Respecting students and their effort come a long way. How often do we find out that we have received B+ at the end of the semester and have no clue how we got there! What led to that B+ on my scoresheet? Was it my assignment, or my participation, but perhaps the way I behaved with my teacher? I need the answer. My utmost respect to the teachers who makes effort to create a spreadsheet and upload marks every now and then to keep track of the student’s performance.

3.?????How much leniency with students is accepted!

A teacher should carry themselves as one. If they try to bridge this gap and try to be informally too friendly, it could backfire imminently. It definitely does not mean that the students would give less respect, no it doesn’t. But it is always advisable to make a clear distinction between the two worlds. Again, the word strict does not mean unfriendly. You can be a very stern teacher, yet approachable. The trick here is to ensure that you are approachable, yet not someone whom everyone would take lightly. However, please ensure you are an active listener and not just an autocratic teacher

4.?????Extra class activity

It is always exciting if a teacher brings something new to his arsenal of advanced educational weaponry. What the arsenal beholds is completely up to the teacher and the subject. Videos, Games, Quizzes, Visits, Debates, whatever that further enhances the learning and makes the course interesting.

5.?????Intensity of assignment

I am always a firm believer that assignments should be given to either retain the knowledge or enhance it. Any excess of that is unnecessary.

6.?????Being presentable and professional

Being presentable in terms of your dress or how you communicate with the students should reflect your level of professionalism as a teacher. Being too informal will compromise your credibility. Always respect the opinion of the students and avoid any controversial opinions and belittling the students. Also, make sure you prepare well.

7.?????Empathy towards students.

This one is tricky. Ensure you are empathetic towards your students while ensuring you are fair. Caring too much for an individual may even lead to a sense of hostility and a feeling of favoritism among others. Caring too much for the entire class may lead to you being taken lightly or decrease the efficiency of the course. Be objective yet empathetic.

8.?????Do not compromise your performance measurement standard.

One thing that I have learned as a teacher and as a student is no matter how justified or fair your measurement will be, not everyone will be pleased. Do not compromise your measurement criteria.

9.?????Non-credit tips

It is always advisable if you give them additional tips on non-credit topics. These might be related to personal wellbeing, psychology, LinkedIn, resume building or even excel. Being a teacher does not necessarily limit to the course on hand. Anything beyond that might be even more useful

10.??Get connected with the students.??

Even if they are no longer your students, you have already shared a fair share of time with them. Getting connected on social media or professional platforms will be beneficial for both parties in the future.

11.??Experience in teaching vs experience in the job.

This is one of the burning issues in judging a teacher. To be blunt, how can someone find a teacher credible if they haven’t experienced what they are teaching? On the other hand, even if someone has years of experience, as a teacher, would that mean anything if they are not able to communicate it properly? In the tradeoff between experience in a job or academia, the slight upper hand will surely go to the experience as a lecturer. Not only what they teach, but how they teach is that much more important.