ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

Most adult educators in our field come to this work after years of teaching young children.  We entered the profession with an image of the child and teacher.  Similarly, we approach this new role with an image of the college student and the college instructor.

Maybe we begin with an image of the poised professor with a famous name, whose lecture shimmers with pearls of wisdom as students take notes.  Or perhaps we see the college teacher as a dramatic performer, entertaining students with animated storytelling.  Or we may picture the instructor as a magician, with a boxful of surprises designed to engage adult students in hands-on play.

Peter Filene’s new book, The Joy of Teaching, asks us to recall memorable teachers and to see them in all their variety.  He explains the importance of a good syllabus, well-defined learning goals, and clear rubrics for evaluating the quality of student work.  But the big message in this little book is the encouragement for adult educators to find our own authentic teaching style.

Some good adult educators are entertaining performers.  Others are gently stimulating conversationalists.  The best are not perfect, but are authentically themselves.  Filene reminds us that much like teaching young children, teaching adults is not really about telling students all those things that we already know.  It is about the lifelong human project of identity and relationship.

Filene, P. (2005).  The Joy of Teaching: A practical guide for new college instructors. Chapel Hill, NC:  University of North Carolina Press.

Contributed by Alison Lutton

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