I believe that my role, at the most basic level, is to convey information. Beyond this basic requirement, there is the additional responsibility of presenting the course in a way as to stimulate the students to think about the material, question their assumptions, and apply their knowledge in and out of classroom. This philosophy is best realized while recognizing that students are individuals with different strengths, motivations, and degrees of preparation. The second role, and the one most often recognized by students, is that of the examiner or evaluator. In this second role, the instructor assigns a grade reflecting the student's work.
Most students focus on the second role and ignore the first.
They lose sight of an ally in their education. I remind my students during every class period that I am there to help them. I approach students that having problems and offer my help. I accentuate my role as a coach and emphasize how I want them to succeed. Encouraging students is an important part of teaching.