In order to teach you, I must know you.

This quote by a native Alaskan educator (1) reminds me what good teaching is about. It’s why I ask students at the beginning of every term, What ONE thing do you wish all professors knew about what students go through?

And it’s not about giving students an opportunity to vent. Nor is it to show how “spoiled” this generation of students are. Because they’re not.

This semi-annual series, which I call “What Students Wish You Knew,” started in Fall 2017 and aims to remind us all who we’re accountable to. That good teaching starts by thinking about students’ perspectives and experiences in (and out of) the classroom. And sharing it with you allows me to spread the word. I’ve had professors all over the country telling me they now start the semester asking students this very same question. And the responses they get really give them pause. To reflect and remember who they teach.

Without further ado, here is a curated list of what my students last term wished their professors knew, sorted by topic. Note that each student’s first sentence is bolded, followed by a paragraph that further details his/her thoughts.

Mental Health

I wish I could tell professors that every semester basically, everyone I know and myself has anxiety and battles with sadness.

Most of the time, in my case I try to ignore them and push past the anxiety. I know the phrase “students have lives outside of the classroom” is common but it’s not just about being busy. It’s about a personal struggle that comes every semester while the teachers have assignments lining up back to back. I guess my suggestion would be just to keep in mind that students can also struggle with mental health. I don’t say it as an excuse. I know how difficult it is to have motivation to even get out of bed, so imagine being able to do multiple assignments for different classes. I think as a teacher, I would incorporate free time [based on research we read in class about how important incorporating breaks are to the learning process], and acknowledge that everyone has a cognitive load that can be overloaded when there’s too much information that needs to be crammed in at once.

If there is something I could tell my professor I would tell them how important one’s mental health is.

That all students have a life beyond the campus and classes beyond their class. Sometimes things do come up and I find it frequently that professors expect us to still continue and move forward no matter the situation. Some sickness can’t be seen just by looking at someone either physical or mental. I urge professors to take into consideration that if someone explains their situations to them; please be understanding and take part by helping. Also, not to expect the teaching experience to be same among all students. Everyone’s situation is different, and it is important to give everyone a chance to learn, achieve, and become successful.

I personally went through the worst first year of college simply because my teachers didn’t understand what was going on in my life.

My dad had passed away during finals week and I had no interest in doing anything. I needed time to think but had none, because I was focused on finishing 5 finals. I spoke to one of my professors [who] simply told me, “I’m sorry but it’s your responsibility.” As if, if they were in the same position they would say that in response to themselves. I also had professors that gave me extensions and for that I simply was thankful because how could I even think? I just wish professors were to get into someone else’s shoes sometimes.

I also shared a similar experience to this; I lost my dad before starting college. 

I remember how hard it was to continue doing all of my assignments and trying to keep everything together while dealing with his loss. I did not have time to heal and had to return to class right after. This is something I should have also mentioned, that stress can be overwhelming as it is esp. in college; add personal lives on top of it and it’s not easy. Sometimes you don’t really know what someone else is experiencing, and it’s important to be conscious of how you word things.

Teaching: Passion & Engagement

If I could tell professors one thing I would remind them that ensuring their class is interesting and engaging makes the material much easier for students to master.

Over the course of the years, I’ve noticed that while professors may be passionate about the subject he/she is teaching, their failure to connect said subject with their students creates a huge disconnect. Rambling on and on about what may seem like a fascinat[ing] theory to you may not be enough to keep your students engaged and attentive. Whether or not it’s our favorite subject, [we] students enjoy and benefit when an educator is able convey a lesson in a way that is relatable and engaging. Lessons such as these create a warmer environment for everyone involved. Students are suddenly sharing personal stores that may relate to the topic. There’s a level of comfort where questions can be asked without the eerie [sic] pressure, and time is magically flying by! Not only is the material easier to understand, but instead of students avoiding your class at all costs (trust me if you’re boring and lenient when it comes to attendance, you’ll notice most students only show up when it’s time to take a test) we may actually look forward to it. That being said, I think it is important [to] pay attention to the blank stares, bored looks, wandering eyes, and those who may have even dozed off and see where you can shake the table.

One thing I’d like to tell professors is their disposition towards the course will be reflected by the students.

Engagement and the way a professor presents themselves will impact how seriously and how much students will learn. If you’re someone who just goes by the course schedule and doesn’t really enjoy the subject you teach, it will be obvious. The best teachers I’ve had have been able to relate concepts with stories, set a tone that draws attention and engage with students in a way where they do not feel intimidated if they get the wrong answer. There is a vital importance in being able to connect with your students and gain their respect on a professional level.

One thing I would like to tell professors is . . . to be passionate about the subject he or she is teaching because most of the time the students won’t be interested in learning.

Professors should get students more involved by engaging with the class and making them want to learn more rather than reading off the slides, showing no interest or connections in what their saying because it doesn’t make sense to attend class when he/she is reading straight off from the slides whereas we can simply do that at home. Another thing would be to make sure what they teach in lectures [is] related to the exams. I get that we are in college and professors like to put “tricky” questions to test us. The exams should be based on what we have learned and to prove that we do get what your lectures [are] about.

The classes I did the best in were classes where the professor was engaging, enthusiastic, and passionate about the subject they taught.

When a professor teaches a class in a monotone [manner] or apathetically it disengages students and makes it so much easier for students to not pay attention or dread having to listen to someone who is obviously not enjoying what they do. Professors need to understand that the energy they bring to the classroom has a huge impact on how engaged and interactive students will become and can make the difference between whether they pass the class or not. Of course, at the of the day students are responsible for completing assignments on time and showing up . . . but when a professor is ready to teach with enthusiasm and passion, I believe students are much more likely to succeed in their classes.

It will [be] great for professors to include various teaching strategies that cater to different types of learning.

I have found personally that those professors that include more visuals to their lectures I have been able to learn the course material better. These professors have included documentary clips, implemented real-life scenarios in their teaching as well as other forms of visuals. In those classes, professors have been able to make the course material interesting, meaningful and enjoyable for their students. As a student, I was able to remember the topics taught for a longer period of time rather than just for that semester. It will be helpful if they use different learning … strategies during their lectures.

Accessibility/Classroom environment

One thing I would like to tell professors is to understand it is difficult to adjust to learning something new in a semester along with other courses as well.

I had [a] Calculus professor who expected students to learn a concept or a new formula in one class, which is only an hour long. He would also get upset when questions were asked about the problem. This made it hard to approach him for office hours or just to ask a question in class. Professors already have the knowledge of a specific course for many years. They cannot expect students to learn it in one seating. Professors should take their time to explain problems and be able to answer questions. Or at least make the time to review . . . difficult concepts so students can learn them efficiently.  

One thing I wish professors knew is that they should always be caring and supportive regardless of how much a student struggles with the course material.

Unfortunately, I have come along the way [sic] with a few professors that have discouraged students because they are unable to follow up with the curriculum at the same level as other students. Last semester, one of my friends was concerned about her grades and overall academic progression in the class. She therefore spoke to the professor and asked for help. However, instead of receiving guidance and encouragement, she received an “it’s going to be impossible for you to pass the course, you are[n’t] going to make it.”

In my opinion, I believe that it is important for professors to establish the fundamentals of how to promote positive reinforcement and cultivate student engagement when teaching. Students may view the cost of studying as too high due to the time consumption and effort that most assignments and class work requires. It is essential for professors to create learning environments in which they not only impart knowledge to students but also establish a trusting and caring relationship with them. Also, the course curriculum should be designed to convey genuine interest in students and to address their motivation. We should consider that professors can be a deciding factor for college majors and if a student had an unpleasant experience with him/her it may alter their future goals and plans. Overall, one of the worst things professors can do is to degrade their students. 

[Author’s note: What this student wrote echoes the sentiments by Daniel Chambliss, sociology professor and co-author of How College Works – that students often equate the discipline with the instructor: “If the physics professor is cool, then physics is cool.” If the professor is dull, the student will think the same of the discipline. If the professor is so dull that the student never takes another physics course, well, that impression could hold for the rest of her life. (2)]

Dear professors, please have some way that we can contact you and that you will answer.

I have often had professors that tell us their email but when I write them with a question, it takes them forever to respond. Personally, I love to talk over assignments especially long-term ones to ask questions and learn as much as I can from you. However, if I cannot contact you, it is often frustrating. Yes, you all have office hours but because I fill my semester with an average of six classes, I often am not free during your office hours even though I would love to talk over an assignment. So if at all possible, to make yourself and your advice available other than office hours, be it on any platform, I would certainly make use of it. That said, I understand your entire life is not just to be there for your students so thank you for all you do already for us.

To all professors: your job is to reach us. 

Whether this be on a practical, emotional, or intellectual level, part of what you do or say in your classes should resonate with your students. In order to do this, you should probably be open to questions and comments and be prepared to meet the student at their unique level or lens of understanding. Too many of you are dismissive of our questions and concerns and, surprisingly, many of the professors I’ve encountered have been belittling and condescending in their interactions with students while simultaneously shirking the responsibility of actually answering our questions. When I ask that you be able to reach us as your students, I also mean this literally. You should be there to answer our questions, if not during office hours, then through email. If you expect us to be able to answer your questions in a thorough and timely manner, then we have every right to ask that you do the same. Have the same energy of responsibility and commitment to your students that you expect us to have to your courses.

[Author’s note: This is provocative. Maybe you want to say something back. That most professors aren’t the way this student describes. Fair enough. At the same time, I doubt he/she’s making this up…]

It’s not all complaints though…

One thing I would like to tell professors is thank you for all the hard work they go through to ensure us as students that we will get a good education and the best out of their class.

Some Professors may come off as rude or not caring but Professors in general try to fill knowledge to those who are willing to accept the knowledge. As an education major, I appreciate all of my Professors and teachers of the past. 

Sometimes we don’t click right away or make any type of connections with someone in the classroom. 

We might encounter an unpleasant meeting or the opposite of the best one. We all make mistakes and not always we will be the perfect student or professor, but one thing I would like is to thank you! because I learned, and I will keep learning from different points of view. Every professor has his/her own “thing” that I am sure we as students will use as a reference for the future… Also, my experience in college has been great so far that it pushes me to continue for my bachelors [degree]. So please try to enjoy your work, so we can enjoy ours as students.

Thinking of one specific thing I would like to tell my professors is something I found a bit challenging because at the moment I found myself at a loss of words.

After hours on my computer gathering my thoughts together all I want to say is thank you. Thank you for all that you do, for being helpful and giving me that final push when I fear things may be impossible, for giving me the tools to put my best foot forward, and the patience you have with us students. I know we students are not easy to deal with at times with all our excuses, tardiness and such so thank you for everything.

Your thoughts and comments are welcome!

(1) As cited by educator Lisa Delpit in her book, Other People’s Children

(2) https://www.chronicle.com/article/It-Matters-a-Lot-Who-Teaches/243125