Characteristics of Iranian Competent Professor: A Qualitative Research

Authors

Abstract

This research contributes to improve the quality of higher education through introducing a model of good teacher in higher educational centers in Iran. To this purpose, a qualitative study was conducted by using content analysis approach. Fourteen professors from state universities were selected based on the viewpoints of the students, alumni, directors and their colleagues. The sampling technique was snowballing. To collect information, semi-structured interviews and participant observation were applied. The sample group included 38 teachers were interviewed and other notification means 112 interviews were done with the informants (students, alumni, and faculty director of the Department and their colleagues. Their classes were also observed 72 time by the observers and their assistants. The data processing and content analysis using open and axial coding were done. The features obtain in this process which were related to the professors included 34 components in three general categories of cognitive, emotional and behavioral. In the meantime, the categories that were more frequent in those who had more than 50 percent of the code took place in the pattern of qualified teachers.

Keywords


- Abedini, S. et al (2010). “Perspectives of Medical Students Regarding Criteria for a Good Univertsity Professor in Bandar Abbas, Iran”. Hormozgan Medical Journal, 3, 241-245.
- Ali Ahmadi, A. & Saeed Nahaei, W. (2007). A comprehensive description of the research methods. Tehran: the production of knowledge. (in Persian).
- Bain, K. (2004). What the Best College Professor Do? Harvard University Press.
- Bennett, P. N. et al. (2002). Job Satisfaction of Agriculture Teacher in Georgia and Selected Variables Indicating their Risk of Leaving the Teaching Profession”; Paper Presented at the Southern Agricultural Education Research Conference, Orlando, pp. 555 - 567.
- Brown, G. & Atkins, M. (1988). Effective Teaching in Higher Education. Hamid Reza Arasteh(2006). Tehran: Chapar. (in Persian).
- Buller, J. L. (2010). Essential College Professor. Jossey-Bass.
- Carr, D. et al (2009). “The Effect of Business Faculty Attire on Student Perceptions of the Quality of Instruction and Program Quality”. College Student Journal, v43, n1, p 45 – 55. .
- Dadkhah, B. (2009). “Viewpoints of Students about the Features of a Good University Professor in Ardabil Medical Sciences University”. Iranian journal of Medical Education. First National Conference on Clinical Training in Nursing. P 176.
- Ehtesabi, A. (2005). “Investigation of A Good Professor from Viewpoint of Students inOroumieh University of Medical Sciences”. Iranian Journal of Medical Education. Seventh National Conference on Medical Education. P. 110.
- Fatemi, N. (2006). Investigation of Desirable Master Feautures from Viewpoint of students. Unpublished Mac Thesis. Alzahra University.
- Ghadami, A. et al. (2007). “Students Points of View Regarding Effective Factors in Establishing Communication between Students and Faculty members”. Iranian journal of medical Education, 7, 149-153.
- Gillespie, M. (2005). “Student - teacher Connection: A Place of Possibility”. Journal of Advance Nurce, Vol. 52, Iss. 2, pp. 211 – 219.
- Ghorbani, R. et al. (2008). “Viewpoints of Nursing and Para-medical Students about the Features of a Good University Professor”. Journal of semnan University of Medical Sciences, 10, 77-84.
- Hamidi, M. A. (2008). Education and Research: The process of preparation, assessment, processing and writing. Tehran: Sogand. (in Persian).
- Harandizadeh, E., et al (2010). “Characteristics of a good teacher student College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres University”. Journal of Research and Planning in Higher Education, No. 58, pp. 41-55.
- Helterbran, V. R. (2008). “The Ideal Professor: Student Perceptions of Effective Instructor Practices, Attitudes, and Skills”. Education, V129 n1, pp 125- 138.
- Lowman, J. (1995). Mastering the Techniques of Teaching. Second Edition. Jossey Bass Publishers, San Francisco.
- Luft, V. D. & Thompson, G. W. (1995). “Factoring contributing to the effectiveness of Agricultural Education Teachers”. What students say? The agricultural Education Magazine, Vol. 68, Issue. 3, PP. 23- 24.
- Menges, R. J. (1991). “Why Has Not Peer Evaluation Of College Teaching Caught on”? Paper Presented at the Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago.
- Mohammadpoor, A. (2011). Qualitative research methods against  the method (procedures and practice in qualitative methodology). Tehran: sociologists. (in Persian).
- Mohammadi, B. (2009). Introduction to qualitative research methods. Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies Publications. (in Persian).
- Motalebifard, A. (2012). “Identify Markers of a Good Teacher in Terms of Graduate Students: A Qualitative Study”. Journal of Curriculum Studies in Higher Education (4).
- Navabi, N. (2010). “Viewpoints of Students about the Features of a Good University Professor in Babol University of  Medical Sciences”. Journal of Babol University of Medical Sciences, 12, 7-13.
- O’Malley, G. et al. (2000). Politics of Education: Essays from Radical teachers. (Albany, New York): State University of New York Press  Professional Development Center (2007). Teacher Competencies. School of Education.University of south Dakota.
- Richardson, A. G. & Arundell, A. (2006). “Characteristics of Effective Agricultural Teachers” Journal of Agricultural Education. Vol. 62, No. 3.  
- Roberts, G. & Dayer, J. (2004). “Characteristics of Effective Agricultural Teachers”. Journal of Agricultural Education. Vol. 45, Iss 4, pp. 23- 34.
- Singleton, A. & Newman, K. (2009). “Empowering Students to think Deeply, Discuss Engaging, and Write Definitively in the University Classroom”. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in higher Education, v20 n2 p247-250.
- Suydam, M. (2007). “Teaching Effectiveness”. Arithmetic Teacher. Vol.31, Iss. 2, pp. 30- 35.
- Tirgar, H. (2005). Review the situation and provide a model for improving the teaching of Islamic Azad University. unpublished PhD thesis. University Science and Research Branch.
- Turnbull, J. (2007). 9 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers. Continuum International Publishing Group.
- Young, M. (2006). “Characteristics of High Potential and at- risk Teachers”. Action in Teacher Education. Vol. 11, Iss, 4. pp. 35-39.