Lecturing

[Ivo]

A large proportion of people on this forum are University students, and then some of us want to go beyond the basic Honours Degree and look toward Masters and even PhDs. I myself am studying Education - but you knew that already.

However, I'm not really that interested in assuming a teaching role any more. It lacks the challenge and the flexibility that I would most appreciate from such a career. As such, I am intending to push on further, and instead aim for lecturing - probably at HE level.

What experience, if any, do all of you have of lecturing? Are you following the same path perhaps? Or have you had any journal articles published? Whatever your situation, what do you make of lecturing and is it something you (would) enjoy?

Do share

 

[SS4]

You could lecture people on how there are really only 151 pokemon

I'd need a huge injection of confidence before I could lecture at any level though

 

[Pumbaa]

Most people don't seem to realise Universities *rarely* accept people just to 'lecture' anymore. All lecturers to an extent 'research' and lecturing is just a distraction.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Lecturing is definitely on my list of things to do. Someone I know did my course about 5 years ago, and the Uni have just employed him to lecture. He also works, and lectures part time.

 

[Ivo]

Most people don't seem to realise Universities *rarely* accept people just to 'lecture' anymore. All lecturers to an extent 'research' and lecturing is just a distraction.

I know this, and have been speaking to all of my tutors about it for about two months now. It's not so much the lecturing I want; that is obviously just the umbrella term for the role. It's just that Bath Spa are a bit of an exception due to it being teaching-led - at present anyway.

The whole job description is basically a mix of lecturing, research, writing and administration. (And maybe book hoarding.)

Oh, and thank you for the PM on this very subject

 

[BlythPower]

Most people don't seem to realise Universities *rarely* accept people just to 'lecture' anymore. All lecturers to an extent 'research' and lecturing is just a distraction.

...and seminars and essay marking and exam marking and the pastoral stuff...

Stick with research - there's none of them pesky students to deal with...

 

[Ivo]

You could lecture people on how there are really only 151 pokemon

But... but... but...

If there are only 151, there's no Pichu :cry:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Stick with research - there's none of them pesky students to deal with...

Who are you calling "pesky"?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

...and seminars and essay marking and exam marking and the pastoral stuff...

Stick with research - there's none of them pesky students to deal with...

I agree.

When I did some lecturing it was far from satisfying. Preparing lesson plans and course objectives was a chore. About a third of the students genuinely didn't want to learn anything and another third had difficulties in attending lectures (though were more likely to be available if there was a visit to 'somewhere cool'). The Teaching team only wanted Lecturers who'd produce high pass rates, so the only solution for me appeared to be to work hard and aim for the lowest standards of learning achievement. Only that approach would give the institution the pass rates they needed to secure thier inward investment, with the consequence that qualifications were awarded to students who had little knowledge or experience (and in some case, little interest).

The alternative was to aim higher - for an employable level of competency and to mark students on their real abilities. This 'righteous' position resulted in appallingly low pass rates from the students after which I wasn't invited back for another year's lecturing.

Unlike the institution, I wasn't doing it for the money but for the prospect of some academic achievements, so I think we remain happy with our differing objectives. (I still have dealings with the institutions concerned on very friendly and cooperative terms).
However, the same old team of Principals, Vice Chancellors, Bursars and Department Heads seem to roll on happily forever (mainly on the dinner party circuit) so I think the long-term and committed educationalist has a secure life if they don't mind the conflict between the success of their pursuit of revenue and their depressed level of student's attainment of knowledge.

In conclusion : today's Universities are competitive businesses, and they will be determined to achieve their financial objectives without much regard for student's long-term achievements nor their staff's integrity.

 

[BlythPower]

In conclusion : today's Universities are competitive businesses, and they will be determined to achieve their financial objectives without much regard for student's long-term achievements nor their staff's integrity.

Indeed. Having had a 'local' university's new essay marking scheme described to me in some detail it's now all about making the 'product' more attractive to those who have to fork out £9k a year and (perhaps, understandably) want a suitable return at the end of it. With decreasing student numbers, unis now have to market themselves on giving a greater chance of a first than their competitors.

 

[YorkshireBear]

For civil engineering our most succesful lecturers (at lecturing) are those that spent years in industry before. Not sure whether that applies to your disipline though.