College Professor Jobs
Inside the Work Day
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A Typical Day as a College Professor
“A typical day as a college professor” Work usually starts around 6:15 a.m. when I turn on the computer in my home office with a cup of coffee in my hand. I sip coffee as I read e-mail messages which are usually about 50 percent from students during the academic year. After I respond to more urgent messages, I review my lectures note for the day and print out any handouts.
Like many college professors, I live pretty close to campus so by 7:50 a.m. I’m typically ready to start enlightening the minds of my students. It is important for a college professor to arrive early to each class. Since I teach at a small institution, my students know to arrive early to turn in assignments and discuss any last minutes questions, especially on quiz days.
Before the start time, I have usually taken roll and greeted my students. At 8:00 a.m. on the dot, I typically start my first “show” of the day. I make every effort to use an interactive approach to teaching by mixing lecture with activities, discussion, and media. A lecture may include music, short videos, etc.
During the lecture, I scan the room and try to connect with each student by asking
questions, making eye-contact and encouraging them to participate. The occasional sleeping student will get called on or embarrassed.
In between classes, I schedule lunch and office hours. Office hours are usually pretty busy. Students stop by for academic advising, career counseling, help with assignments or just to visit. At the end of the semester, office hours are usually too hectic to allow for any other work to get done at school (grading, writing, etc.).
After delivering an average of three lectures a day, I usually go home or to a coffee shop where the work continues. Since office hours typically do not allow time to grade papers or write lecture notes, that part of the job usually gets done at the coffee shop or at home. My home office is also where I spend a little time moderating the online discussion boards I encourage my students to use (sometimes by bribing them with extra credit or making postings mandatory) and design new lecture materials. At some point in the evening I typically read e-mail one more time before ending my work day.
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