What Makes A Lecturer Good

Usually, we mostly talk about what or how a good student is, whether in a small talk or a formal talk. It is an absolute way which enables us, as student or learner, to share experience and insight about being a good student. Nonetheless, have we ever thought about a man who is always standing in front of us in the class room or what we call “lecturer”. If a good student is required to study diligently, would a good lecturer required so? If a good student is required to have extensive knowledge, would a lecturer supposed to be like that or even more than that?

If every student has their opinion about good student's criteria, they must have opinion about good or qualified lecturer or teacher as well. Here, several fundamental qualifications with respect to a good lecturer or teacher will be discussed. 

1. Having sufficient educational background
   
   A lecturer is a professional. Nowadays, particularly in Indonesia, a teacher or lecturer has to go to college not only to study but also to obtain a degree which indicates their specialization and capability. It is undeniable for a lecturer to teach only students under his degree. For instance, a master degree graduated lecturer must not teach post doctoral student. He is only available to teach undergraduate students. It means that the lecturer would not be able to present post-doctoral class material as he has not yet studied it. It is hardly possible for them to teach it.
2. Having satisfying experience
   
   It is quite similar with having sufficient educational background, because professionalism is also reflected by how experience a teacher or lecturer is, either to his knowledge regarding to his field or to his dealing with students. Lecturers should know and master subject that they teach. That is why they have to study in undergraduate and so on. It's also better if they have done research about their subject. In addition, not only do they have to be a master in their field, but also have to be able to transfer their knowledge to students.
3. Having appropriate and enticing methodology
   
   Teaching or transferring knowledge to students is related to how a lecturer teaches in class. Commonly, there are two methods applied by lecturers, i.e. Lecturer Centered Learning (LCL) and Student Centered Leaning (SCL). In accordance with Dr. Richard M. Felder, a professor of North Carolina State University, that student-centered teaching methods shift the focus of activity from the teacher to the learners. These methods include active learning, in which students solve problems, answer questions, formulate questions of their own, discuss, explain, debate, or brainstorm during class; Cooperative learning; inductive teaching and learning. If compared with SCL, LCL is far left behind as it is presumed to be an old style of teaching. Hence, lecturers nowadays are demanded to apply SCL in class room. 

To sum up briefly, lecturers have to know their position and how to run it. They are obliged to fulfill the very basic requirements of being lecturer until the advance requirements to be able to implement their knowledge to the real academic world, where education is convenient for human being.

by Muhammad Arham | Hasanuddin University