Different strokes for different folks
Every level of education requires a different type of strategy and approach. Lifelong educators may be extremely skilled at their particular craft, but the idea of teaching a different level of education may make them feel terribly inadequate. Graduate school is a unique environment because it is often a blend of students at different points of their life. The graduate school instructor must enter this environment and attempt to provide material that is applicable to everyone.
A variety of perspectives
The students who take graduate classes may be quite varied. For example, there may be younger students who are continuing directly from a bachelor degree to a master's program. Or, there might be older adults who are returning to school for further education, advancement in their current vocations, or second careers. This combination creates an interesting environment for the instructor as they must balance experience and expectations. Therefore, here a few thoughts on strategies for teaching graduate students.
Recognizing stage of life
When teaching graduate students, it is important to recognize the various stages of life that may be in the classroom. Sometimes it is valuable to go around the room and have everyone share why they are there and what they expect to learn from the class. This can help the instructor get a sense of who is sitting in the seats and what they might contribute to the class. Granted, it is difficult for an instructor to tailor the educational experience to each and every student, but it always helpful to be sensitive to various attitudes and perspectives that may be present.
Understand competencies
The instructor should always have a sense of what they are going to teach prior to the class beginning. However, there is no reason why they cannot be somewhat adaptable. In addition to assessing stages of life, the instructor should attempt to assess levels of knowledge, competency, and understanding. This helps the teacher avoid statements, lessons, and approaches that are redundant or disconnected from the students in the class. For example, when the class is filled with older adults seeking a second career, it may be inapplicable to talk about what they will experience "when they get out and start working." Some students may have been working longer than the instructor.
Respecting perspective
It is also helpful to respect the knowledge and experience that may be present in the graduate classroom. Students who pursue advanced degree may be people who have a certain level of scholastic ambition. In addition, people who pursue advanced degrees are often more interested in the particular subject matter, as opposed to undergraduates who may take certain classes purely out of curricular obligation. Of course, instructors have to avoid letting certain individuals take over the class and turn it into a rash of anecdotes. This can be particularly true for older students who may share a lot of "in my experience" stories. These can be helpful applications, but the instructor should make sure that they do not distract from the overall outcomes that are being taught.
Theory and application
Finally, instructors should attempt to strike a balance between theory and practice when teaching graduate classes. In today's modern society there is an increased emphasis on, and desire for, practical applications in the classroom setting. This is often due to people who pursue degrees because they are interested in furthering their careers. Therefore, they may be looking for tools to deal with specific situations. However, instructors should not shy away from teaching broader concepts and theories as well, since general theories may be more valuable in the long run when people are looking to solve unique problems in the workplace and society.
Catalyst of discussion
Overall, graduate education is often an opportunity for people to focus in on their career and gain further knowledge that can be applied to a particular field. To this end, graduate instructors should look to balance ideas and practical strategies so that students are able to imagine specific solutions but also gain cognitive tools that will allow future adaptation. The savvy graduate instructor will take advantage of the experience that is often present in a graduate classroom in order to broaden the depth of education that is provided to the overall class.