Nothing is worse than walking into a class that you're actually excited for, only to find that the professor is dry and boring. Sometimes the subject is the problem, but other times, it really is the professor.
The one who doesn't bother to learn your name.
Nothing makes you feel less motivated than a prof who doesn't even take the time to learn everyone's names. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. When I'm in a lecture of 100+ people, I never expect the prof to know us all personally. However, I've sat through classes of 20 or so people and had professors not even bother to try. It feels so impersonal and kills my motivation when a professor simply points to me and says "you" or calls me out by the color of my shirt. My rule of thumb? If I know almost everyone's names, so should they.
The one who talks forever.
This is my biggest pet peeve in college. Professors always lecture about how we need to respect their time, and then they keep talking after class is supposed to be over. Recently, I was sitting in a class that was nearing the end. I had to be to work 10 minutes after class finished so I was anxiously watching the clock. About two minutes before class ended, the prof had a break in her lecture where she could have easily stopped, but instead said "I'm going to cover one more thing and keep you a few extra minutes." Excuse me. I need those few extra minutes to get to work on time. So, when class was supposed to be over, I stood up, told her I needed to go to work, and left. She was not happy with me. Later I chatted with her about the fact that I often work directly after her class and would be leaving if she talked over time. She proceeded to give me a lecture about how I pay good money for college and I should be taking advantage of her giving me extra time. Sorry professor, I don't think that's how that works. My time is valuable too. Groan.
The one who takes forever to grade assignments.
When I work hard to get my assignment in on time, isn't it only fair that the professor should grade it within an appropriate amount of time? I hate not knowing where I stand in a class — do I have an A or an F!? I like to keep track of my scores on all assignments and keep a running total of my points. This way, I have an idea of what my grade will be. When professors take weeks (or months) to grade my assignments, that really messes with me.
The one who doesn't move.
Everyone has had that professor that sits or stands in one place for the entire class period. Can you say boring?! I'm a very visual person and when the person I'm supposed to be focusing on doesn't move I can't pay attention.
The one who refuses to use technology.
Nothing is worse than a professor that refuses (or doesn't know how) to use technology. It's a beautiful and helpful thing inside the college classroom and professors who refuse it drive me nuts. However, even worse than the professor who doesn't use technology is the one who tries ... but can't. I've spent so much wasted time in a classroom watching professors struggle to get the image on their laptop onto the projector. Thanks for nothing, prof.
The one who puts nothing on their PowerPoint.
What exactly is the purpose of projecting a PowerPoint onto the screen for all of us to see when there is literally nothing on it? Ever had a professor that only puts the main subject on the screen instead of any useful information? PowerPoints are useful in class so that when professors talk too fast, we can still jot down the main points. Which brings me to...
The one who gives speedy and unorganized lectures.
I'm an avid pencil-and-paper note-taker. Because of that, it drives me crazy when professors either talk way too fast or skip around in their lectures. I like my notes to be pretty and organized so that they're actually useful in the future, and when a professor throws in an important point an hour after he covered that topic, I get furious. Aside from that, I can't stand when a professor emphasizes the importance of taking quality notes and then rushes through his lecture. Hello, I can't write that fast.
The one who doesn't respond to emails.
I respect that fact that professors have a life outside of the classroom, but when they say they'll respond to emails within a day, they'd better go through with it. It's so frustrating when you have a question and your professor doesn't bother answering it. I've also had a professor print out my email and address it in the next class. Um, if I could wait to talk to you in class I would have just done it.
Of course, all of these are worst case scenarios, and I've been blessed with a lot of awesome professors as well. Maybe I'll write about that next week.