Add to this the very large amount of time which goes into reading, commenting on and grading essays, compositions and research papers, preparing and grading daily assignments, quizzes and examinations, and meeting individually with students to review class material, discuss other related ideas and listen to concerns about grades. A great deal of teaching takes place outside of the traditional classroom. Careful supervision of individual research papers, laboratory experiments or clinical activities are major components of teaching. The ultimate example of individualized instruction, the direction of M.A. theses and Ph.D. dissertations, requires particular time and skill. Academic advising, along with personal counseling, of students requires major expenditures of effort for many faculty.
University professors devote considerable amount of time to maintaining their professional skills.
Reading new books and studies in professional journals is the only way to maintain a minimum level of competence. The majority of Extension activities are in the area of teaching. Short courses held on campus, various kinds of off-campus teaching, and continuing education programs are all major types of teaching. Scientific research is frequently subdivided into basic and applied research. Humanistic scholarship tends to be carried out by individuals whose major resources are time and books.