Real Life Work Experience for College Professors
By bobmnu
@bobmnu (8157)
United States
March 22, 2009 1:15am CST
Do you think that college professors understand the real world. Years ago a person would work in the field of their study and when they were looking to cut back but not retire they would share their knowledge and experience in the classroom teaching the young minds. Now days it seems that too many college professors are in school for years and finally get their PHD and then go right into the classroom and start teaching with out ever working in the field. They are teaching students only what they learned but never what they experienced or the problems they encounter working in the real world.
Is this something important and should it be considered in hiring professors?
2 people like this
4 responses
@nekonyanta (892)
• Philippines
22 Mar 09
Hi there. I have to agree that university's should consider work experience more than, or at least, with equal priority, degrees and educational learning. I think that having professors who actually know what they're teaching about and would know which aspects of a particular subject would actually benefit their students in real life would be more beneficial to the students. Theory and practice are two different halves of the same whole and it would be better if professors, who are preparing their students for the real world, would be able to strike a balance between the two. 
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
22 Mar 09
My son is attending college and is studyiing Packaging Engerneering. His current professor is one who has been working in the filed for about 10 years and now wants to earn his PHD in packaging. He is teaching and learning at the same time. My sonloves the parctical side of the learning that he is receiving. People who have to work in the field has so much more to offer.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
22 Mar 09
Books can only teach theory, whereas actually doing the things that you are teaching other people about gives practical experience.
Practical experience beats theoretical exercises every time.
Those that can, do... those that can't, teach.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
22 Mar 09
I think it ws the University of Colorado Mining school that several yers ago entered into a partnership with several big mining and oil companies to rotate professors and field engineers sot that the people in the field could learn the new theory and the professors could see what it was like working in the field. I never heard any more oh how it worked out.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
23 Mar 09
Its only a matter of time until college professors will be looking for work. The internet, and electronic media, are already cutting into the College Campus. Each year more students study, and achieve their educational objectives online. College and University costs continue to escalate until only the well off can afford the luxury.In time robots that will appear grow with children will play, and teach, at the same time. Kids will no longer go to school or college, but will be taught at home, by robots that emulate Playmate, Teacher, and Professor. This will come in the not too distant Future.
@pmcepe (194)
• Philippines
24 Mar 09
That is also happening in my country now. But during my college days some teachers were actually practising professionals. During our majoring years (3rd-5th years) many of us chose the evening classes where we had more of them than the academicians. Their actual work experiences were effective, tangible teaching lessons.
