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Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists
Like it or not, achieving high satisfaction scores from your students is something you must master as a teacher.
Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists
For two decades, I've been developing tools that have improved my practice in medicine, dentistry, and scientific research.
Join me every Friday to discover a new tool you can integrate into your workflow as a doctor, a scientist, or both.
I believe in sharing knowledge, embracing automation, boosting productivity, and finding joy in the process.
Table of Contents
Preface
Main Article
Readers’ Favorite
Stuff
Preface
Preface
🤔 Hmm…
Lately, I've been contemplating the audio version of my newsletter.
A group of my readers like it, but most prefer reading rather than listening.
Currently, I generate the audio using an artificial voice, but I wonder if it's good enough. My own voice may be more engaging.
So I started to play around with the idea of narrating it myself.
So I started to play around with the idea of narrating it myself.
👍 Pros?
The narration will be more personal, and it'd allow me to publish it on podcast services like Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast.
👎 Cons?
I'm not a professional narrator, I have an accent, and there's a good chance I'll butcher the English language now and then.
But I guess you know me by now 😃. Narrating it myself will be a challenge and a chance to experiment with something new— two of my favorites.
So I will go for it.
Over the next few weeks, I will publish audio samples and would love to hear your feedback.
This week also marks the end of my first fellowship year. I learned A LOT and can't wait to dive into the second year.
Number 45!
Let's do this!
Main Article
Main Article
👩🎓 Student satisfaction scores are an essential metric for evaluating your teaching.
👩🎓 Student satisfaction scores are an essential metric for evaluating your teaching.
Whether you're a university professor, a clinical instructor, a company representative, or an employee asked to deliver a work presentation, high satisfaction scores are crucial to moving up the ladder. Even if that ladder only has one rung called “making your boss happy.”
The problem:
The problem:
Most of us never had any teaching training. So, when those satisfaction scores are low, we wonder how to improve them. Often, we're frustrated.
How do most teachers deal with it?
How do most teachers deal with it?
Worst case scenario: we get frustrated and give up. Best case scenario: we try harder.
But here's the thing: Simply “trying harder” may not necessarily deliver better scores. Eventually, you might be stuck in a vicious cycle of more effort, with the same low scores. And that's frustrating. EXTREMELY frustrating.
Why doesn't it work for us?
Why doesn't it work for us?
Well, high satisfaction scores require excellent teaching skills. Without formal teaching training, pinpointing why your scores are low can feel like an impossible task.
Now, here's the cool part.
Now, here's the cool part.
🔵 I've gone through 3 extensive teaching training programs.
🔵 I was the head of teachers’ training programs in 3 different organizations.
🔵 I've been measured, graded, and got feedback 1000's of times
And today, I will summarize this experience into the four most valuable tips to boost your satisfaction scores.
None of them requires additional training.
And none of them requires practice.
In other words, follow these 4 secrets, and your satisfaction scores will increase.
🙋 1. The Student is Always Right
🙋 1. The Student is Always Right
I can't stress this enough. This is THE SINGLE MOST crucial tip.
The sooner you realize it, the faster you'll become a great teacher.
Some teachers realize it right from the start. Some realize it after 30 years.
It might seem counterintuitive. After all, isn't the teacher the expert in the room? But this principle is not about who has more knowledge.
If a student doesn't grasp a concept, it's not a reflection of their ability, but a signal that you need a new teaching strategy.
Adopting this approach requires flexibility. It's about facilitating the learning process in a way that works for each student.
🏡 Take home message:
🏡 Take home message:
Assume responsibility when your student is wrong. Instead of “No,” say: “My bad. I didn't explain it well, let me try again.”
😊 2. Be Humble
😊 2. Be Humble
Wow, this one was a game-changer for countless teachers I trained over the years.
Humility in teaching means having the grace to say, "I don't know, but let's find out together."
Humility in teaching means acknowledging mistakes and using them as teachable moments.
Humility in teaching means that your students’ emotions and needs always take priority over yours.
🏡 Take home message:
🏡 Take home message:
Model the behaviors and attitudes you want your students to adopt: Admit mistakes, be humble, and never get frustrated with them.
🤨 3. Never Ask, “Do You Understand?”
🤨 3. Never Ask, “Do You Understand?”
Instead, ask if they prefer you explain it again.
“Do you understand?" puts your student on the spot. Nothing good ever comes out of it.
Instead, ask: "Would you like me to go over that again?" or "Would a different angle help?"
Questions like these underline that it's normal not to get it on the first go. They foster an environment of openness and patience and signal that your students' understanding is your top priority.
🏡 Take home message:
🏡 Take home message:
With experience, you'll be able to identify a struggling student just by looking into their eyes. Until then, always ask if they want you to explain again.
💌 4. Ask for Feedback on How You Teach, All the Time
💌 4. Ask for Feedback on How You Teach, All the Time
Regularly seek feedback from your students on what works and what doesn't.
This could be through formal feedback forms, anonymous suggestion boxes, or casual conversations during breaks.
Embrace criticism!
This idea may seem scary. "Am I giving my students too much power? Am I diminishing my authority?”
But after 29 years of teaching, I can safely say: The complete opposite is true! Give it a try. You'll be surprised by how effective it can be.
🏡 Take home message:
🏡 Take home message:
At the end of each lesson, openly ask: “Today, I tried to teach you X by doing Y. I hope it worked. Do you feel this way worked for you? Feel free to share your thoughts privately or email me if that's more comfortable.”
Readers’ Favorite
Readers’ Favorite
I gave my first lesson as a teacher 29 years ago.
It took me 11 years to understand how to build on students’ feedback and truly embrace it.
IT CHANGED MY LIFE.
I wrote about it in one of my most liked newsletters: Friday's Digest #22 - “How embracing feedback will change your life."
Stuff
Stuff
💡Gear I use - Kindle Oasis.
There are many types of e-readers out there, but I find the Kindle lineup very easy to use while taking advantage of the free Kindle books included in my amazon prime membership.
In 2019, I transitioned from the Kindle Paperwhite 3rd generation to Kindle Oasis, mainly because it has a blue-light filter which is important if you're reading before bed (more on that in issue #2). This device is easy to operate, and its screen resembles actual paper.
Epilogue
Epilogue
That's it for this issue.
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Have a great weekend!
Shay
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