At Work

[stoutfellow]

I underwent the ethics training yesterday. Most of it was pretty obvious, and very little of it applied well to professors; it's more aimed at civil servants, especially regulators and buyers. (I passed.)

My two observations this year were actually a bit humbling. B. and S. are both much better teachers than I am... When S. came in last night, he spotted me in the back row. (We'd never met.) He came back to find out who I was and what I was doing in his classroom. I identified myself; he shook my hand and went back to begin his lecture. Man, he was good. The students were alert, and most of them answered his nonstop questions (all addressed by name) immediately and accurately. When one didn't, S. gently guided him to the correct answer - and he did it in a way that encouraged the student's confidence. He constantly pointed to matters of practicality as well as theory, and pointed out different options for dealing with problems (though, of course, focusing on the technique of the day). His demonstration of the use of Mathematica to finish a problem was pedagogically beautiful. The lecture was scheduled for two hours, but I left at the midpoint break; I'd seen enough. He came out of the room, rather nervous; I told him I was very impressed.

I am somewhat consoled by the fact that he's ten or fifteen years older than I am, so I have a hope of being like him when I grow up. That I had the job of judging him is... peculiar.

Comments

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

I used to love to watch really *good* instructors teach; I always came away with some new ideas that I could incorporate. You should let him know how much you thought of his approach. NO teacher can hear enough good things about their methods!

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I submitted my report to the Chair this morning; it was very positive. (The words "exemplary" and "impressive" were prominent.) The Chair will go over it with him sometime soon; he'll get the message.