MyEducator offers many resources for instructors: auto-graded assessments, lecture slides, videos, assignments and project ideas, and even sample syllabi. All of these materials help instructors plan their classes. Some might ask, though, If all of these materials are provided, what need is there for an instructor at all? Couldn’t a student take these materials and just teach themselves?

While some students enjoy the challenge of teaching themselves, most students benefit from the personal touches and interactions of an instructor.

Planning, Preparation, and Presentation

Learning requires more than just reading information. It is often the personal teaching style of the instructor that helps the information sink in and become knowledge. Think back to your educational career. There have been professors, teachers, and instructors who have engaged you in the learning process and helped you cement your knowledge. Others have made you stare at the clock, counting down the minutes until class is over. What makes the difference?

Kassinger¹ defined the instructor presence as “the instructor’s interaction and communication style and the frequency of the instructor’s input into the class discussions and communications.” So, while MyEducator provides wonderful resources for an instructor to use, the instructor’s planning, preparation, and presentation are what will bring the content to life. An instructor can gauge where students are mentally and adjust the presentation to meet the class’s individual needs. Whether online or in person, the instructor facilitates discussion and participation between class members and between students and the material.

The Personal Touch

Another way instructors add value is through supporting and mentoring students. Office hours are a great way for a student to get clarification on concepts, help with assignments, and get to know the professor. Research² has shown a correlation between how often professors meet with students and how well students do in school. Those positive interactions can mean a world of difference to a struggling student.

When instructors know a student better, not only can the student do better academically but the instructor can offer mentorship and opportunities such as letters of recommendation, internships, job offerings, and networking.

Takeaway

A course is more than just the material presented. The tools and materials in MyEducator resources are created to help the instructor focus on presenting the material in a way that will better help students understand the concepts and walk away from class with a better understanding of the information. A good instructor can elevate a class from time wasting to life changing.

1. Kassinger, F. D. (2004). Examination of the relationship between instructor presence and the learning experience in an asynchronous online environment (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12232004-230634/unrestricted/Kassingeretd.pdf ↩︎
2. Kim, Y. K., & Lundberg, C. A. (2015). A structural model of the relationship between Student–Faculty interaction and cognitive skills development among college students. Research in Higher Education, 57(3), 288–309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-015-9387-6 ↩︎