\NHAT IS A

STUDENT-ORIENTED

TEACHER?
albert d. roy, jr.

It is often said that one of the
major characteristics of a two-year
college teacher is that he is student-
oriented. Yet, the meaning of ‘‘stu-
dent-oriented” is hardly ever made
explicit. It is my purpose to list some
of the characteristics of the student-
oriented two-year college teacher.
You are invited to add to my list.

The  student-oriented — two-year
college teacher will probably dis-
play some of the following charac-
teristics:

1. He arrives at his classroom
before his first student enters and
leaves his classroom with the last
student who departs.

2. He attends student activities
and serves as « class or club advisor.

3. He colle: ts student assignments,
makes constructive comments on
these assignments, and returns as-
signments and examinations to the
class following the one in which
they were collected.

4. He is careful to provide his
students with many successful learn-
ing experiences.

5. He knows his students by name
and is familiar with their entering
characteristics.

6. He is more likely to be found
in the student lounge than in the
faculty lounge.

7. He perceives the material he
teaches from his students’ point of
view.

8. He pauses with expectation
after he says, ‘Are there any ques-
tions?”

9. He perceives his students as
being ABLE rather than UNABLE.

10. He encourages students to
visit his office and he gives them his
undivided attention when they do.
He is a helper.

11. He answers questions in a
“one to one” situation with the
techniques of a skilled counselor.

12. He complains more about his
inability to communicate than his
students’ inability to learn.

13. He varies his classroom pro-
cedures and he commits his students
to a variety of learning experiences.

14. He strives to make the learn-
ing experiences of his students per-
sonally meaningful.

15. He keeps the interest of stu-
dents in mind when he serves on
faculty committees.

16. He is available for student
advisement in the area of his exper-
tise.

17. He refers students who are
in need of special assistance to the
Office of Student Personnel.

 

"It is often said that
one of the major char-
acteristics of a two-
year college teacher
is that he is student-
oriented.”

 

18. He believes in the worth and
the dignity of every human being
and relates to his students on this
basis.

Obviously, no single two-year
college teacher exhibits all of the
above characteristics, Also, a student-

oriented teacher exhibits many be-
haviors not mentioned here. Since
being student-oriented is largely a
sharing of self, there are probably
as many ways of being student-
oriented as there are teachers. Oo