At most American colleges and universities, professors confront this problem: They have a huge range of students, varying in both their abilities and levels of interest. How do you handle these disparities?

In today’s Martin Center article, Professor Knox Brown offers his thoughts on this question.

He writes:

The novice’s intimidation in a fitness club is perhaps why one major fitness chain’s motto is ‘Judgment Free Zone.’ After all, a gym is supposed to be a place where people of all backgrounds can come to take control of their health and fitness. A college classroom is no different. A group of 30 students presents a multitude of challenges for a teacher. It is not uncommon for any group of students to possess vastly different academic levels and varied levels of interest in the subject matter.

First and foremost, Brown says, the professor has to meet the students where they are. Don’t walk in like a know-it-all from Mount Olympus. Frame questions with their knowledge and circumstances in mind. Also, be certain to provide some positive feedback. Otherwise, weaker students are apt to drift away.

Brown suggests that, as much as possible, let the student direct his or her learning. “Although I give students a list of suggested topics for research projects — among them midterm loss for the president’s party or why young people don’t like to vote—many students do their best work when they choose a topic close to them, one in which they have a specific interest.”

Read the whole thing.