What Makes A Great Teacher?

That cutting back on the posting schedule deal is looking more and more appealing.

For now, though, I've got an idea that just popped into my skull, so let me share a few paragraphs about it.

Through my time in college so far, I've had a lot of good professors, but few great professors. (If you're one of my professors and you're reading this, you're one of the great ones, by the way) So as I was brushing my teeth, I pondered: What separates the good from the great? Here's a few key characteristics I came up with.

1. Great professors are steeped in tradition, but aren't stuck in it.

Traditions are good. Traditions (hopefully) take the good and leave the bad, leaving a better example for the next generation. Without tradition, you're wading into untested waters, and with education, that's not a fun experience for the student. However, it's also very common for professors to find a rhythm and stay there, even when it's not beneficial to the class. I've had professors that have gone to both extremes, and neither one is pleasant to deal with.

2. Great professors are invested in their student.

Not just from an academic standpoint, although that is surely important. The professor should draw the student to excel in all aspects of their life. They'll fail more often than not, but if they don't at least make the effort, then how could they ever hope to succeed?

3. Great professors have high, but not unreachable, expectations.

This ties in with my previous point. If the professor asks for mediocre work, guess what they're going to get? Contrariwise, the professor that asks for an absurd amount of work is going to have either much less than they expected or a burnt-out husk of a student.

4. Great professors give extra credit to students who blog.

It's only fair, right?

All right. That's all for tonight, class. (After all, those professors expect me to be paying attention in their classes in the morning) One final thought - These rules (except for the last one) could also apply to just about any relationship, though perhaps not as directly.

Three random thoughts:
1. I was cranky when I went to bed last night. Thankfully, the cause of that crankiness is not rectified.
2. Living with people you actually talk to is a lot different to, well, what I'm used to in college. It's better, yes, but it's also certainly different.
3. Go vote at my other blog, Choose Your Own Blogventure! I've only got four responses! This will only be fun if you get involved. (Yes, I mean you)