Even without access to physical offices during the pandemic, Lehigh professors have been committed to holding office hours virtually. While the notion of attending review sessions from the living room couch might be enthralling, students continue to encounter the timeless office hours dilemma: how to talk to their professor. To successfully navigate virtual office hours and get the most help from your professor, follow these tips.
What to Do Before Office Hours
- Know what kind of help you need: Before you log into office hours, ascertain what direction you want your session to follow. Do you need a review of specific material, general test prep or help with a homework assignment? Knowing what type of help you require will save you and the professor time, which you can then spend focusing on what you really need to know.
- Figure out what is confusing you the most: Once you know the type of help you need, figure out the aspects of the material that are giving you the most trouble. If you can point to a few key areas of difficulty, the professor will be able to spend more time and energy on making sure that you understand it.
- Have questions and study materials prepared: Questions are your best friends during office hours. Be specific and have questions prepared ahead of time, since no one likes the awkward silence that happens while you try to think of something to say. In addition to the questions, have your notes, exams and other study materials nearby in case you need them for review. Looking back on prior work and mistakes with your professor is an effective learning technique.
What to Do During Office Hours
- Be engaged and respectful: Your professor specifically set aside this time to help you do better in the course, so demonstrate your appreciation and respect by being engaged. Log in on time, keep your camera on, limit outside distractions and look interested in what the professor is saying. Zoom burnout is real, but so is a poor grade, so pay attention.
- Lead the conversation and ask questions: Remember those questions you drafted before office hours started? This is the time to use them! Professors cannot read your mind, so they want you to take charge of the conversation and voice your needs. They can help you best when they know what you want from them, so do not be afraid to ask for it directly. If you find that the professor is off on a tangent or saying something that confuses you, politely redirect the conversation and get back on track.
- Take notes: Although we can remember hundreds of TikToks without issue, we cannot always remember everything that a professor talked about during office hours, so write it all down. Make sure to note anything especially insightful, helpful or interesting. When you’re running on caffeine the night before the exam, you will thank yourself for taking the notes.
- Ask where to find more information: Professors are accomplished for a reason: They know their stuff! That “stuff” also happens to include outside resources, like the Center for Academic Success. Ask them where to find more helpful study materials, and they’ll be happy to help.
- Thank the professor: Expressing gratitude to a professor is not only respectful, but also wise. They will appreciate your politeness and acknowledgement of their efforts, and you will appreciate putting yourself in their good graces. Professors are people, too, and they will treat you well if you set the tone for the dynamic early on.