In yesterday’s Adjunct Professors Special Interest Group panel at the INTA Annual Meeting, moderated by Tara Aaron of Aaron Sanders PLLC, professors, lawyers and students discussed how to win their attention.
Professor Lutz-Christian Wolff urged teachers to be passionate, or at least act passionate: “There are natural teachers … and there are others,” he said. “But the difference is over-rated.” He advised lecturers to use in-class exercises, real-life examples and personal stories to capture and maintain attention. “Explain why you are doing things, and make sure you’re entertaining,” he added.
Several students in the session said they do have self-discipline, and can concentrate while their electronic devices are switched on, particularly when professors are engaging them on their own level. “When students think, they don’t have time to tweet,” said one.
But Professor Irene Calboli emphasized that engagement is a two-way street. She said students should “be aware of their surroundings, show good manners and respect.” Ultimately, she stressed, technology is everyone’s friend: “But as a professor I can never compete with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.”
