Do college students care when an instructor reads off notes?

Question

I'm typically pretty outgoing in the classroom. I've been told I have a good speaking voice. I'm energetic, passionate, and sometimes funny. I gladly take questions, and I interact with students, and all that stuff. I stay after class and talk to students about their own interests.

However, I'm still pretty new. I bring in notes because I'm nervous and risk going all over the place, stuttering, stammering, and skipping out of nervous. I feel terribly insecure every time I glance at them, especially when I get lost for a few seconds and obviously read a line or two verbatim, or have to search my notes out of something.

Do you think this is something students care too much about when I teach? I've heard that silent pauses are worse for faculty than they are for students.

Answer 1

No. It shows you are organized, professional, and prepared.



They'd think you manage time well and that you hit important topics.



If you just rely on it the whole time word for word without eye contact, i'd think you did it last night. But I would mind my own business cuz you know your stuff and i'd listen to the material. And instructors are people too.



Since you just glance once in a while no one minds at all nor thinks negatively of it. Cuz it shows you like accuracy and keeping schedule.



I've had some do this, some once in while spoke verbatim each class or a couple classes. I didn't think much about it. I just focus on the material. I was like oh they even brought notes.

Answer 2

As a college student I can say probably most students don't care. I've had professors in the past who brought notes in with them and it never made me think any less of them. Sometimes there is a lot of material to cover so I don't blame them if they need a reminder in front of them. Just as a suggestion you could try rehearsing each lecture a few times beforehand to cut back on the stuttering. If you're still getting lost don't panic just take a slow deep breath collect yourself and continue. Hang in there confidence will come with time.

Answer 3

Why are you reading notes? Lecturing is the LEAST effective way to teach anything. People remember very little of what the hear, a little more of what they read, and a lot of what they do. Stop lecturing. Set them up in groups to discuss the readings. Get them to prepare and present- they'll remember a WHOLE lot more of the material.