I believe that there’s no one better to evaluate a teacher than a student.
Last Tuesday, I did my first day teaching “Business of Photography” at the nearby College of Saint Benilde. After the period, I asked the students what they thought of the class and how I could make it more interesting for them, as I really want them to to look forward to coming. Although I prepared lots of teaching materials – video, audiovisual presentations, lots of stories and of course, the course matters- I still got the comment that it was “stiff.”
I asked for enlightenment, and I was told that my class was the first and only lecture-type class that they have. As students of AB Photography, it seems all their other subjects are workshops. During their classes, they’re moving around whatever subject or model they’re photographing. Their three hours tick away fast, and the session ends before they’re ready to stop what they’re doing. Whoa, how can I compete with that – in their other classes, they’re doing what they LIKE to do, and in my class, they’re learning what they NEED to learn. They’re DOING something in their other classes, while in mine, they have to SIT, LISTEN or SPEAK (recite) for all of three hours.
My continuing goal is to make my next class better than my previous one. So off to a bookstore I will go, to look for those training books with lots of fun exercises. I think I need to learn how to conduct some relevant physical activities to get them off their seats every so often during the three class hours.
And while I’m on the topic, I better ask the school for more comfortable seats for them.
I’m glad I asked my students, and I will keep asking. 