By MEGAN MAHARRY
Student Reporter
The back to school season is a busy and stressful time of year. Parents are scrambling to get their kids all the necessary school supplies, students are worrying about their schedules, and teachers are finalizing their plans for the school year. At the college level, professors are busy with their own work preparation. Everyone has several steps they take in order to begin their semester in the best way possible.
Professor Tammy Brown has been teaching at Northwestern Oklahoma State University for eighteen years and is the chair of the Mass Communication department. Along with many other professors, she puts much time and effort into preparing for the semester. Before the semester begins, Brown determines her goals as the teacher and the learning objectives for her students. She finds it important to determine what knowledge and skills her students should leave the classroom with at the end of the semester, by reviewing how she taught previous classes and making any adjustments to her teaching. Brown reviews sections of the textbook and course notes, and makes any changes she feels are necessary. She also develops her course syllabi and forms it around any new information or changes made. Afterwards, she then considers new teaching methods that would benefit her students, and works to incorporate these different strategies into her teachings.
In preparing for the first day of class, Brown reviews the course roster, and determines how to make the course information relevant to her students. By preparing for her classes, it allows her to set the tone for the class, and to help the students feel more comfortable. Brown feels it is important that her students feel at ease in her classroom.
Getting to know her students is an important factor to Brown. “I try to learn the names and a bit about each of my students, within the first week,” Brown said.
By incorporating class activities within the first week of classes, such as activities in which students introduce themselves and share a bit about themselves, Brown is able to get a feel for each student. She has her students fill out a learning inventory and reads over them and makes notes about each student. This helps her to grasp each student’s strengths and weaknesses.
Brown really enjoys teaching and cares a lot about her students. “I look forward to each and every year,” Brown said.
She works diligently to ensure she is completely prepared for the semester. All the hard work and preparation set the scene for the start of a great semester.