Interdisciplinary courses, seminars, workshops, and discussions are invaluable for providing opportunities for this cross-disciplinary intellectual and teaching enrichment. They felt as if their potential contributions in nurturing good teaching were generally ignored in their departments. They are available and willing to help. However, delivery, creativity, organization, and enthusiasm of the instructor are also major factors. A joie de vivre in the classroom is contagious.
Many experts do agree that an active involvement promotes mastery.
Similarly, difficult to read overheads, crowded slides, or amateurish videos can detract from courses. Scholarship, new grants and contracts, and election to national organizations are reported and praised, but new teaching approaches or courses are rarely highlighted. However, it would be expected that after a year or so of mentoring, most new faculty could develop approaches that best match their own creativity and courses. Teaching quality is already very good overall, because of the commitment and dedication of faculty members to their students. However, the status of teaching should be significantly enhanced.