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> Even if they're both accredited, wouldn't better faculty lead to better teaching? No. Generally, at research institutions, faculty are not chosen for their t

> Even if they're both accredited, wouldn't better faculty lead to better teaching? No. Generally, at research institutions, faculty are not chosen for their teaching ability. They are chosen for their research background. They are often horrifically bad teachers, if they even teach the class at all and don't just assign it to a TA. It also doesn't take a world-renowned genius to teach an undergraduate or even a Master's program. It takes someone with a very solid grounding in the subject, which should be any graduate, who also happens to be a great (preferably enthusiastic) communicator.

gravypod 11y ago
> No. Generally, at research institutions, faculty are not chosen for their teaching ability. They are chosen for their research background. They are often horrifically bad teachers, if they even teach the class at all and don't just assign it to a TA. I will have to say that I have had a few, select few, of those few bad teachers. As a TA, I can also say that I am thankful that my professor doesn't stick the load of our lecture work on me, but I have heard from many other TAs that this does happen. From what I understand, I'm VERY lucky that I am working with am amazing teacher.
paulojreis 11y ago
I can see your point, but I believe this roughly depends on the education level we're talking about. I did my degree quite a few years ago, but finished my PhD last year. At least in the higher-level, when "learning" isn't exactly the classroom-like experience, I'd rather have a brilliant researcher but lousy teacher as a professor (instead of the opposite).
- Amezarak 11y ago
  Absolutely, at the highest levels, where you are doing research, working with researchers, and working in labs, then you definitely want brilliant researchers hired for their research background. I just don't think that's true for the majority of undergraduate or even graduate students. And (I think), universities are very good at hiring for research ability. Hiring for teaching ability they are not good at, even when they intend to.

gravypod 11y ago

> No. Generally, at research institutions, faculty are not chosen for their teaching ability. They are chosen for their research background. They are often horrifically bad teachers, if they even teach the class at all and don't just assign it to a TA. I will have to say that I have had a few, select few, of those few bad teachers. As a TA, I can also say that I am thankful that my professor doesn't stick the load of our lecture work on me, but I have heard from many other TAs that this does happen. From what I understand, I'm VERY lucky that I am working with am amazing teacher.

paulojreis 11y ago

I can see your point, but I believe this roughly depends on the education level we're talking about. I did my degree quite a few years ago, but finished my PhD last year. At least in the higher-level, when "learning" isn't exactly the classroom-like experience, I'd rather have a brilliant researcher but lousy teacher as a professor (instead of the opposite).

Amezarak 11y ago
Absolutely, at the highest levels, where you are doing research, working with researchers, and working in labs, then you definitely want brilliant researchers hired for their research background. I just don't think that's true for the majority of undergraduate or even graduate students. And (I think), universities are very good at hiring for research ability. Hiring for teaching ability they are not good at, even when they intend to.