Monday, June 30, 2014

Why Lecturers Better be Charming?

Have I told you that I am always a big fan of charming lecturers? And have I told you the correlation between charming (or hot) lecturers with my list of straight A subjects? If I haven't, let me tell you: although in absence of scientific support (ah I'm too lazy for this!), and although 'charming lecturer' is so ill-defined (if no definition at all), but please bear this as an immature hypotheses: When you do your teaching responsibility so boringly, with only lowest attainable standards of excitement and preparation, you are putting one or some of your students who are potential for A into the risk of getting C, or less. Why? Because some super small things that slip your attention can make your handsomely brainy charm faded. And it's just a turnoff. Really, a student can work so hard, happily, to get an A, if their lecturer are considered 'charming' - at least it's applicable to me :)

I am inviting you to view these two courses on Coursera: "The Global Student's Introduction to U.S. Law" by University of Florida and "Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy" by University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. This is a part of experiential learning, you decide whether my hypotheses is acceptable or not.

This whole thing is only comparing two men teaching hotness and the turnoffs. Or maybe their team. I don't know if it's applicable to female, but you can take it as a comparison and discover it yourself or quit my blog straight away. Let's see who are those lecturers:

This is Prof. Donald Hornstein of University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. A handsome dude, no?



And here is Prof. Pedro A. Malavet from University of Florida. The photo is a lot better in quality. His appearance is okay, too, no? A teddy bear looking man, surely.



So, at this point, without assuming their scholarly work or academic approach or whatever substance they are mastering, I assume you, yes you kittens, still excited to go to school. No?

Now, let me take you to the beginning of the class: The Introduction Part. 



Okay, so now you can make your comments on which one looks more exciting to you.

As for me, I love Prof. Hornstein at the first place, and losing my appetite in University of Florida's course even from the introductory part. And now, although I hate so much to keep writing this, I am forcing myself to share what are the 'exernalities' that (I'm trying to be as objective as possible) influence me in loving or ignoring these lectures.

First: Ambience. Like when we're reading a book, before the materials we want to be attracted by the cover. Look at the backdrop of these two lecturers and now you can write up if one background makes you more comfortable to sit and watch compared to another. Well, to say, this is completely teamwork. To put it to yourself in a class, it can be a nice form of presentation (well it's comparable to backdrop!), a nice setting of the teaching venue, the lighting, sound-system, might be as simple as conducive whiteboard.

Second: Attire and look. Although I am not a supporter of nice attire and I myself a really bad example of it, but I must admit that this is the first time I really notice a few crumples on one's shirt can really make a difference! And also hair styling, and even oil on your face. I mean, come on, look at Prof. Malavet on the initial picture! We all loves him. But then, at the introduction part of the his course, the combination of the video quality and his... Oh my gosh now I must really ensure none of these universities are affiliated with me in the future! Damn freedom of expression!

But let me highlight another win of Prof. Hornstein. At least, for me (and most of environmental law addicts), a hiker. At one lecture, he explain the shirt he's wearing - a 25 years old of Appalachian Trail T-Shirt. It's old and dull and grey and no different than any T-Shirt. But, it is the story behind it that gives me a 'Whoaaaa!' - he completed the Appalachian Trail, the longest hiking trail in the East Coast, 25 years ago with his wife. Come on, kittens, isn't it a 'Whoaaaaa'? At this point, I hope I'm not losing objectivity to these two men. So, my dearest lecturer fellows, you can consider using this trick as well to your students! After this T-Shirt story, Prof. Hornstein definitely have my heart.



And now, back to the issue, we are moving on to the third externality.  

Third: Your presentation. Yes, I mean your power point presentation as well as the way you're delivering it. But let's focus on the first thing first. Look at this picture and tell me which one looks what:





While some Indonesian academics are so confident to maintain their boring, so last decades' approach in making presentation, you yourself can consider if one presentation makes you less excited that the other one. Some nice template, simplicity to navigate the points, elegant themes - that can be some minor things that counts a lot.

But hey, really I'm not writing here to being so insolent towards one of the most amazingly virtuous free-course program and all the hard works that the contributors given. What my point is: You probably can do much better by sacrificing just a little more on non-substantial matters. Some out-of-teaching materials things that can be a complete suicide in winning a student's enthusiasm can be prevented if you are aware and putting yourself on a student's perspective. Please bear in mind that some things are really subjective and of course your comments are most welcome!

And for Prof. Hornstein and Prof. Malavet, really I love you both and I adore your great works on these courses!

Love,
A student who consistently adore charming Professors :)

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