Do the best professors get the worst ratings (from students)?

QuantMech
Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:55:45 +0000

The comparison of fluent vs. “disfluent” presentations on calico cat genetics was based on one-minute videos. Viewers of the video learned equally well from either presentation. (The instructor was the same.)

I don’t think that this comparison tells much about student reactions to a 50-minute lecture. It is not too difficult to maintain attention for a minute, regardless of the quality of the presentation. When it comes to a 50-minute class, that’s different.

Now, it is possible that the “disfluent” version of the instructor would teach closer to the pace of student comprehension, which could make this version actually preferable. Also, it is unclear which version of the instructor is more alert to students’ cues about what they are understanding from the presentation, and what they already know. I don’t think that you can tell in advance which version of the instructor would interact more with the students, ask better questions, or respond to students’ questions better.