Almost every student has been there; you’re slouching in your seat, your eyes are slowly drooping shut and your professor’s never-ending monotone voice starts to sound like the perfect lullaby. It’s possible that your disinterest is your own fault since you did not get enough sleep the night before, or maybe it’s actually your professor who’s to blame.
The majority of our faculty at NC State are perfect models of excellent professors, but sadly there are some professors at NC State who would rather be anywhere than standing in front of a classroom. No one wants to have a lackluster professor who does not care about their subject, but it seems inevitable that you’ll get at least one boring professor. However, your professor’s lack of passion for their subject could be preventing you from digesting and understanding the material in class and therefore affect your grade.
Several studies have shown that teachers’ enthusiasm is one of the most powerful predictors of students’ success in the classroom. According to a study cited in the Journal of Experimental Education, “among the teacher variables, enthusiasm was the most powerful unique predictor of students’ intrinsic motivation and vitality.”
And according to National Communication Association, “When students perceive their teachers as enthusiastic, dynamic, and energetic, they are more likely to be interested, curious, intrinsically motivated to learn, and engage behaviorally, cognitively, and emotionally.” The more enthused the professor was about their subject, the better the students performed.
Thankfully some NC State professors know how their attitude can improve their students’ experience. Clyde Sorenson is one NC State professor who believes enthusiasm and engagement are vital in getting students excited about his course, ENT 201: Insects and People.
“You’ve got to get people to pay attention, and you’ve got to get people to want to come,” Sorenson said. “If I’m not engaged, if I’m not bringing as much entertainment as I can to the classroom then I’m probably not going to catch some of those people who I really want to catch. I intend to have a lot of fun in class, and I figure if I have fun then [my students] will probably have some fun too.”
Some of my favorite professors have been the most enthusiastic and energetic adults I have ever encountered. They are the ones that can make even the most tedious of subjects seem interesting and fun, and they know how to make the whole classroom chuckle. I realize now looking back at my previous semesters at NC State, that the courses I performed the best in were the ones that were led by my most interesting and engaging professors, and I really should have appreciated their enthusiasm more while in their classes.
Passion and enthusiasm are some of the most desired traits students want from their professors, and although as students we cannot force our professors to be enthusiastic about their subject, we can try to take every opportunity to make the classroom feel more engaging. Getting to know a professor better could improve the way you understand them and therefore approach the course. Going to a professor’s office hours when you don’t understand a concept and getting to speak with them one-on-one can help as well. Establishing a connection with a professor could be the way you uncover their passion for their subject.
Ultimately it is not our responsibility to be the enthusiastic party in the classroom; it is the responsibility of the professor to do what they can to help students learn, and that means being excited about their field and teaching. Since students perform better with enthusiastic professors, NC State professors need to change their teaching strategies in ways that showcase their passion and thereby helping their students get more passionate too.
