The key to being a college professor is to think like your students. If you want to capture and keep their attention then you need to be able to reach out to them in the right way.
- Talk to them, not at them. The worst thing you can do as a college professor is try to talk at your students rather than to them. There’s a big difference because if it feels like a forced lesson then they are sure to shut off in their mind. This is not what you want so learn how to talk to them in an effective manner that will grab their attention.
- Have interesting content to share. If you want college kids to pay attention then you better have some interesting things to say. Give great thought to your lectures and lessons so that they are pertinent and important to the students. Rather than just rambling on in a lecture, learn how to create content that they will actually care about.
- Make each lesson of interest to them. The more you can get into their mindset, the better. Learn now what they care about and what matters to them and then make the lesson at hand be of interest to them. If you can think like them, then you will know what they find to be interesting and can then apply your lesson in the appropriate manner.
- Try reaching out to them in an effective manner. Reaching out doesn’t mean becoming their best friend, but it does mean that you can relate to them. Find a way to reach out to them and to motivate them. If it feels forced they will turn away so be subtle in your approach.
- Don’t try too hard. It will show immediately if you are trying too hard and this will make them want to shut down. If you are pushing yourself to be something that you’re not or are working too hard to be at their level this will turn them off. Just be yourself and show what you have to provide them in an academic manner.
- Avoid giving into trends or being their friend. Many professors work hard at befriending their students but in the end this doesn’t earn respect. You also want to be careful not to give into trends as you look as though you are trying to be too young. Just reach out to them without looking like a fool in the process and this will always serve you well.
- Be an expert on the subject matter at hand. You have to know what you are talking about or else it will come across immediately. It’s not to say that you will know the answers to everything, but you should know what you are talking about. Be well versed in what you teach so that it captures their attention.
- Don’t show a lack of confidence or worry. If you are feeling not so confident or concerned about something, this will come through too easily. This will not only show as a sense of fear but it will be an instant turn off. Do your best to be a confident and calm individual as that will show through in a very positive way.
- Be real and straightforward as they will appreciate that. If you don’t know the answer to something, then tell them that. If you want to evoke discussion, then ask for it. Be real, be honest, be straightforward, and have realistic expectations as that will ultimately get you what you want in the end.
- Try relating the lessons to them in what matters in their lives. Once you are in their mindset, you can really roll with your teaching. This does take time, but if you can learn to relate the lessons to what they experience in their lives it gives it a nice little twist.
Being a college professor isn’t always easy, but it can be very rewarding. This is a profession where you really have to think like your audience and use these tips to help.
Mary M.M. Frederick ordinarily writes about the costs associated with earning an MAT degree online.