As a professor, I have been able to collect valuable information that has been obtained
through a three year study with students enrolled in the Introduction to Teaching and Learning
course. This study initiated in August 2002, spanned eight semesters and included 210
undergraduate education students. It involved an assignment where these students wrote an essay
about a teacher who made a positive or negative impression on their lives. Each student was
instructed to include thoughtful examples, descriptions, and details of how they were treated by
these teachers. This written assignment also required students to compare how the chosen
teacher’s attitudes and actions differed from those of other teachers. Following this written
portion of the assignment, in groups of four, students orally shared their essays while a group
member kept a written list of the described teacher attitudes and actions