What Instructors Really Want

Okay, the title is a bit of a lie.  I won't be telling you everything about what instructors want (such as, for instance, tenure).  But I will be telling you how to use your knowledge of temperament theory to help determine what a particular instructor may expect of you as a student, and thus, how to maximize your chances of success in her/his class.

(Don't know what temperament theory is?  Click here, and you soon will.)

Commander/Guardian instructors (about 25% of college teachers):

• Value precision and factual accuracy.  Memorize the important facts and get them right.  Never try to bluff your way through.
• Care about following the rules:  margins, font choices and sizes, reading the directions carefully.  Pay meticulous attention to such matters.
• Take deadlines seriously.  Turn in your assignments on time.  Don't expect that excuses you offer will do you any good.  If you have a legitimate excuse (e.g., medical emergency), offer concrete proof of its validity.
• Like students who are serious-minded, organized, responsible, respectful, orderly, traditional, pragmatic.

Adventurer/Artisan instructors (a vanishingly small trace element among college teachers):

• Value the present moment, so focus on demonstrating your knowledge in tangible, direct ways, such as application oriented projects.
• Prefer a hands-on, experiential approach to a "talking heads" one, so expect to jump right into utilization of the course content rather than just talking or thinking about it.
• Like to cut through the complexities and keep things simple and accessible, so in communicating with them, get right to the point and be blunt and direct.
• Like students who are unpretentious, adventuresome, fun loving, risk taking, impulsive, impetuous, and realistic.

Systematizer/Rational instructors (about 40% of college teachers):

• Value logical consistency and intellectual competence, so do your homework and learn how to build a linear, logically defensible case for your point of view.
• Expect students to take responsibility for their own learning and to master theoretical complexities.  Focus on the interconnections between ideas, not just brute facts.
• Like to be challenged and don't mind a good argument, as long as you remain rational (not emotional) and can stand up to them, marshalling your case.  Learn how to be an effective debater, but don't expect them to pull their punches in responding to you.
• Like students who are intellectual, conceptual, theory-minded, logical, incisive, direct, focused.

Harmonizer/Idealist instructors (about 35% of college teachers):

• Value authenticity and enthusiasm in students.  They want you to care about the same things they care about, to catch their vision and passion for their academic discipline.
• Are relational, so smiling, maintaining eye contact, looking interested, laughing at their lame jokes are all important.  (However, they also have a sixth sense for hypocrisy, so the best approach is to BE interested.)
• Cherish self-expression, so develop opinions about topical issues and learn how to talk (or write) about them.  But be sure to be respectful and tolerant of those who disagree, and don't stereotype or demean others.
• Like students who are creative, imaginative, empathic, ethical, committed, visionary, and original.

Click here for additional thoughts about temperament and student success.

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