Where I have been...
One of the assignments for the Professional and Scholarly Practice course, the final course in the College Teaching Certificate program, involved exploring how one’s educational and professional experiences has influenced their teaching practice. Until writing this narrative I hadn’t realized how much my past education and work experiences impacted the way I view teaching and learning. The lesson I took away from this exercise is the importance of self-reflection - to examine what we do and why we do it and reflect on these areas for hidden biases and areas of opportunity. Open the document below to explore this narrative.
education_and_work_narrative.pdf | |
File Size: | 345 kb |
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Where I am...
Recently in the mail I received a letter that I wrote to myself in June of 2017 at the conclusion of the Focus on Learning Training Program (a year-long collaborative new faculty development program). One of the purposes of this letter was for participants to take stock of their strengths as educators. I wrote that the key strength that I bring to teaching is kindness and my commitment to providing students with an exceptional learning experience. This commitment serves as the core of my teaching philosophy. Over the almost two years that I have been teaching full-time, I can say that my philosophy has not changed, only deepened. The more time I spend with students the deeper my commitment is to providing them with an exceptional learning experience. I continue to feel that my most significant strength as an educator is this belief – that the student experience comes first. This belief obligates me to continually develop, enhance and challenge my teaching practice so that I may continue to serve my students in the best possible way.
The most significant thing I have learned about teaching since becoming a full-time faculty member is the value of collaboration. Speaking with new and experienced faculty members has taught me so much about what it is to be an effective instructor and introduced me to tools that I never knew existed and now can’t live without (big shout out to Kahoot!). I believe that the value of collaboration can be integrated into my teaching as well. As indicated in my teaching philosophy, HR is such a nuanced profession and to be successful one must develop the ability to understand, and value, other people’s perspectives. Adding collaborative components into my instruction, such as the Mock Interview project launched this year between the School of Justice and School of Business, IT & Management, provides students with the opportunity to examine their own beliefs and be introduced to different ideas, cultures, and ways of looking at the world.
The most significant thing I have learned about teaching since becoming a full-time faculty member is the value of collaboration. Speaking with new and experienced faculty members has taught me so much about what it is to be an effective instructor and introduced me to tools that I never knew existed and now can’t live without (big shout out to Kahoot!). I believe that the value of collaboration can be integrated into my teaching as well. As indicated in my teaching philosophy, HR is such a nuanced profession and to be successful one must develop the ability to understand, and value, other people’s perspectives. Adding collaborative components into my instruction, such as the Mock Interview project launched this year between the School of Justice and School of Business, IT & Management, provides students with the opportunity to examine their own beliefs and be introduced to different ideas, cultures, and ways of looking at the world.
Where I am going...
In May of this year I will take on the role of Program Coordinator for the Human Resources Graduate Management Certificate program. As I continue to develop my teaching practice by taking workshops provided by Durham College’s Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment (C.A.F.E.), I am also planning to seek opportunities to develop skills relating to the role of Program Coordinator. To this end I am excited to be participating in an HR Coordinator Retreat this Spring where HR Program Coordinators from Eastern Region College’s get together to share experiences and collaborate. I am also hoping to attend the Leadership Excellence in Academic Programming (LEAP) conference. LEAP is a program designed for Academic Coordinators who are interested in becoming more effective in their roles. Over the next year I also want to challenge myself to put what I have learned throughout this College Teaching Certificate Program into practice. Specific goals include:
April, 2018.
- In depth review of course outlines – how can they been improved? How can I further incorporate Universal Design for Learning practices?
- Assessment and evaluation review – are my course assessments aligned appropriately with course and program learning outcomes? Do they provide an opportunity for experiential learning?
- Collaborate with Durham College’s Aboriginal Student Centre (ASC) regarding ways to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into curriculum.
- Commit to a formalized, documented, reflective practice. At the conclusion of each semester reflect on what worked, and what didn’t work. Review course data such as grades and feedback from students – analyze this information and explore opportunities for improvement. Documenting my reflections will keep me honest and track my learning as I progress in my career.
April, 2018.