Coping with Lecturer Types

Coping with Lecturer Types

You will meet all kinds of lecturers in your educational experience. Just for fun, and perhaps a little more enlightenment, I want to try to point out a few of the most common types of lecturers and the best way to deal with them.

THE DRONER-

Drones on in a monotone lecture; using the same lecture notes and audio visual materials year after year. Hardly knows students are in the room. Looks at the back wall as he speaks. Don't even try to ask questions in the Droner’s lecture. Instead, visit the lecturer during his/her office hours. Have a reason for your visit, such as further clarification on something in the text or an assignment. Introduce yourself, being as engaging as possible. Show interest in his research or hobbies if any are apparent, and then proceed to your agenda.

DR. FOREIGNER:

Writes long equations or explanations, working feverishly on the board. Has a strong accent, and if you can't understand him, it's your problem, not his. Usually lectures facing the blackboard. Seems to enjoy erasing the board to start filling it up again before you have any hope of getting it all written down in your notes. This lecturer has taught at every university in the country. You have little chance of avoiding him or her entirely. Your only hope is to read the chapters ahead of time so you are familiar with the vocabulary and know what to expect, and try to follow his or her line of thought. Get down as much as you can, but concentrate on the concepts, and understanding what the equations or visuals are describing. Reading and preparing thoroughly before class will make the difference between life and death. If you know what to expect, you will actually be able to understand more of what he is saying. If you are familiar with the material, you will be able to take your notes with less time bobbing your head up and down to look at the board. (I have direct experience here)

THE LEAPER:

Leaps from one thought to another with hardly a passing glance to see if anyone is following. Lots of energy, but confusion reigns. Genuinely likes students, but wants to share so much his students get lost in the clutter. Your best hope is to read the summary material in the text before he starts a new chapter. Then you'll know where he's going, and how it all fits together. Make a brief topical outline of the chapter before class and leave lots of space in your outline to fill in other notes. Then you can skip around in your outline making notes as he leaps, and your notes will stay in linear order.

THE ARTIST:

Runs to and from the board, drawing stick figures, lines and circles to explain the concept. Disconnected fragments of sentences tumble over one another, confusing you and your classmates. The key here is to connect with the concept. Make a mental image to match his or her sketches, taking down his diagrams in your notes. Read the chapter summary ahead of class so you have a basis for comprehending what he/she's rambling about, and then re-read the text material with your notes and the diagrams in front of you, filling in and labeling the diagrams as you build understanding.

THE STORYTELLER:

Everything has a personal connection and brings back memories for this lecturer, or gives him an excuse to tell a story that may or may not have connection to the lecture topic. May be hard to follow for those who look for specific information in a lecture. Instead of hearing the story for the sake of the story itself, listen with the content under study in mind, so you hear the connections. The lecturer is probably telling the story to illustrate something about the concept. Don't get lost in the events or people in the story and lose the concept the story is intended to exemplify.

IL DUCE:

There are two ways to do things, his way or the wrong way. He's the professor, and don't you forget it. Don't try to argue, you'll only lose. You'll likely find there are definite right and wrong answers to every question. You will need to accept that for this course what he says is right and give him the answers he wants, even if you have a real basis to question the validity. You could try to engage him in a debate, but be ready to back off if this appears fruitless or accept the risk of an F. If you can't deal with his way of teaching the course, you might be better off dropping the course and taking it another time with someone else. Check first that it is offered with someone else. Often Il Duce will be the only one who teaches his course, as in his eye, no one else would do it right.

First Aid Kit (Always keep it for stroks, shocks, and burnouts):

There are many others, of course, and most are a mixture of several types. Know your own profile, and try to adapt your way of learning to your lecturers’ way of teaching. Reading the material ahead of class is always a good idea, and sometimes can make the difference between an A and a C or worse. And remember also, it's not a bad idea to drop a course or change your stream and take a lighter load if you are really in trouble (especially if the stream is chosen by your Daddy). The phrase that pays is "Protect your GPA!" Prospective employers or graduate schools may look harder at your GPA, than at how long it took you to get through school… Practice of repeating modules Wont Make You Perfect!