20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You’ll split time between teaching, research, and service. Morning might be two 50–90 minute classes using a classroom projector and Microsoft PowerPoint or Blackboard Learn to post slides and readings.
Afternoons are for office hours, grading papers and exams (Microsoft Word or Google Docs), meeting colleagues, and working on research—reading journals, writing articles or books, and submitting grant proposals. Evenings often go to grading or prepping the next lecture.
Common tools are Blackboard Learn or Desire2Learn LMS to post assignments and grades, and a course management system for syllabi and discussion boards. Microsoft Word and Google Docs are used for writing papers, collaborative editing, and sharing drafts.
You’ll also use Microsoft Outlook for email and scheduling, Excel for simple grade spreadsheets, and PowerPoint for lectures. Learn the LMS discussion forums and collaborative editing features early.
You schedule teaching (lectures, grading, office hours) and carve blocks for research—writing articles, books, and grant proposals. Many scholars reserve mornings for research when they’re freshest and afternoons for classes and meetings.
Departments expect published research in professional journals or books; set weekly writing goals, use course release time if available, and coordinate with colleagues when serving on committees or doing administrative duties.
AI can draft lecture outlines, suggest reading lists, or help summarize articles, but always verify facts and sources. When using AI in student work or grading, follow your university’s academic integrity rules and disclose tool use if required.
Never use AI to generate final student grades or official feedback without human review. Use collaborative editing in Google Docs or Word for transparency and keep records in your course management system.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports about 20,460 employed in this category with a median annual wage of $80,260. The lowest 10% earned about $49,140 and the highest 10% about $139,580 (BLS).
Pay varies by rank (adjunct, assistant, associate, full professor), institution type, and location. Expect adjunct or part-time roles to pay far less than tenure-track positions.
University scholars teach more specialized courses, supervise undergraduate and graduate research, publish in academic journals, and write grant proposals. They also do more research and administrative duties like serving as department head.
High-school teachers focus more on classroom management, standardized curricula, and daily lesson plans. University work expects original research and publishing as a core task.
Learn to write clearly and publish. That means drafting articles for peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, then revising from reviewer comments. Use Microsoft Word or Google Docs for drafts and reference managers for citations.
Second, learn to teach: prepare clear course outlines, develop assessments in the LMS, and lead classroom discussions. Evidence of both published research and teaching experience is what hiring committees look for.