Why teachers shouldn’t strive to be their students’ best friends

At many universities, it is now common to give students an evaluation sheet at the end of a course so that they can numerically rate their professors. This practice is intended to improve teaching quality and show that universities value student opinions.

Some administrators use the ratings to determine teacher contract renewals, salary adjustments, promotions and whether tenure (an indefinite contract) is awarded.

Collecting information is valuable, but does it achieve its desired goal of improving teaching and learning?

People commonly confuse “popular” teachers with “good” teachers. Students are certainly entertained by teachers who tell a lot of jokes or put on a show, but do they learn anything? Teachers should not be boring in their delivery, and enthusiastic teachers who convey their passion for the subject will motivate students to learn. Good lecture delivery, however, should be a means to achieve comprehension, not an end in itself.

Students like teachers who they consider their buddies. One of my former graduate students now works as a university lecturer. His trick to get high evaluation scores is to buy students pizza and socialise with them in bars. Teachers should be accessible to students but we should not “bribe” them. I can also be friendly with students, but only after they finish taking my class, never when they are in my class.

Students also like familiarity. If you try something new and innovative, many students will resist. In one of my courses, I allowed students to bring notes to the exam, and the exam questions tested their ability to apply knowledge to new situations.