By Richard M. Felder
Becoming a successful faculty member at a research university is no trivial undertaking. People are not born knowing how to prepare and deliver effective lectures, make good use of the growing power of instructional technology, write rigorous but fair assignments and exams, help students deal with a bewildering array of academic and personal problems, build a world-class research program, manage research and teaching assistants, and balance the endless and often conflicting time demands imposed by teaching, research, service, and personal life. It takes most faculty members long years of trial and error to learn how to do all that, and some never quite figure it out.
A new book—The Effective, Efficient Professor,* by Phillip Wankat—is a treasure trove of information on the strategies, techniques, and tricks of the trade of successful faculty members.