Excellent teachers yield excellent students

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, one factor remains constant: how excellent teaching affects student success.

As institutions grapple with such issues as changing student demographics and technological advancements, cultivating and supporting outstanding educators has never been more vital. Dr. Anna Mountford-Zimdars of King's College London emphasizes this point, noting that "the importance of teaching and the need to recognize excellence are unmistakably [important].” 

But what constitutes teaching excellence, and how can institutions foster it? This blog explores the nature of outstanding teaching as well as the approaches implemented across academia that help nurture and celebrate pedagogical prowess. 

Excellence as a key changemaker

At its core, teaching excellence is about creating transformative learning experiences.

According to the Schreyer Institute at Penn State, this kind of excellence is "an academic process by which students are motivated to learn in ways that make a sustained, substantial, and positive influence on how they think, act, and feel.” This definition underscores the profound impact that exceptional educators can have on their students' intellectual and personal development. 

But doing so requires a range of attributes. Teachers can’t just be subject matter experts; they also "posses[s] thorough knowledge of subject matter and demonstrat[e] a contagious enthusiasm" while still "help[ing] students connect learning experiences and facilitat[ing] development of self-knowledge.” 

Increasingly, institutions recognize the need to support and develop these attributes in faculty. The Teaching Excellence and Motivating Success (TEAMS) program at Mississippi State University's College of Arts and Sciences is a prime example of this commitment. As MSU’s Dr. Kelly Moser explains, "The importance of a great teacher cannot be underestimated. They inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators and changemakers.” By providing resources, fostering collaboration, and celebrating best practices, programs like TEAMS help elevate teaching across campuses. 

Similarly, the University of Leeds has demonstrated its commitment to teaching excellence through its National Teaching Fellowship and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence recipients. Dr. Pam Birtill, recognized for her work at Leeds in assessment, emphasizes the importance of fairness and inclusivity in teaching practices. Her approach "ensures assessment is fair, inclusive and authentic,” a designation which highlights how teaching excellence extends from the classroom to all aspects of the student experience. 

Fostering teaching excellence also requires a shift in institutional priorities, which often create inefficiencies that "obfuscate rather than address with the intellectual prowess warranted.” To truly nurture outstanding teaching, institutions must be willing to confront systemic issues and implement meaningful reforms. 

One key area for improvement? Preparing faculty given that "unlike K-12 educators, who undergo extensive training in pedagogy, higher education [faculty can] lack formal preparation in teaching methods and curriculum design.” Addressing this gap through comprehensive development programs is essential for fostering teaching excellence. 

A transformative culture

While we look to the future of higher education, fostering teaching excellence must be a top priority.

As Dr. Richard W. Schneider, former president of Norwich University, puts it, "Vision without resources is hallucination.” To truly foster teaching excellence, institutions must invest in their faculty, provide robust support systems, and create cultures that celebrate and reward outstanding teaching. 

In conclusion, the path to teaching excellence requires commitment from individual educators, institutional leadership, and the entire higher education community. With this buy-in, we can create learning environments that transform lives and prepare students for the challenges of the future. As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern higher education, let us remember that at its heart, our mission is to inspire, engage, and empower the next generation through exceptional teaching.

Ready to begin your own journey of excellence?