Second: This is a post to students -- I very much recognize the value of addressing the needs and concerns of your intended audience, and it would be possibly hard for them to deal with the implications of market power as currently manifested in the USA (to say nothing of office politics) -- not everyone can be an employee who earns GREATER THAN their actual market worth, like "stars" -- executives, sports and film stars, etc -- but I do hope you explain in your courses the forces that create this reality -- as well as the concurrent point that other workers receive LESS than their actual market worth. I have experienced both in my time.
Third: I am intrigued by your reference to a "mentor" -- is this a formal aspect of management at your educational establishment or a personal relationship? Something we are considering developing at Houston Community College is a way of enabling peer-to-peer talks (and possibly even classroom visits!) that can help instructors improve their pedagogy without damaging their often fragile egos or involving the dreaded Administration -- if you have any pointers I am all eyes and ears!
Thanks for always adding value to my posts. I love hearing your perspective.
I have some tips on your peer-to-peer discussions.
First the mentor relationship I reference is an informal mentorship that evolved because I reached out to some one in the profession that once offered to help me think through some opportunities. They are now my go to person for career advice.
As far as teaching talks, I am grappling with the same problem you are facing. We need more measures and investment in teaching effectiveness. We are trying to build more opportunities for people to engage with each other on this topic but our efforts haven’t fully stuck.
We have a mentorship program for new faculty but that’s designed to help new faculty learn the hidden curriculum of new places.
We are in the early stage of developing a teaching development program. The beginning is to enable faculty to manifest 6 "Commitments" to enhance student feelings of belonging, under the Caring Campus program -- such things as engaging positively with students on the first day of class, using preferred names, take advantage of everyday moments to enable connection with students, teaching with a balance of rigor and compassion. Our faculty are as possessive of their independence as any -- even though (perhaps "because") this is a state-owned institution. As a result, and because this is -- and importantly, with the FULL SUPPORT of the Administration -- a faculty-led exercise, we are searching for ways to entice faculty to become more respectful -- more human -- with their students, without having the measurement of success become a part of their yearly job-related assessment. HCC as well as Texas is aware of the coming demographic cliff, so this is a way to maintain a high level of college graduates to staff knowledge industries in the state. I will keep you informed of progress.
First of all: CONGRATULATIONS on "future Dr. A"!
Second: This is a post to students -- I very much recognize the value of addressing the needs and concerns of your intended audience, and it would be possibly hard for them to deal with the implications of market power as currently manifested in the USA (to say nothing of office politics) -- not everyone can be an employee who earns GREATER THAN their actual market worth, like "stars" -- executives, sports and film stars, etc -- but I do hope you explain in your courses the forces that create this reality -- as well as the concurrent point that other workers receive LESS than their actual market worth. I have experienced both in my time.
Third: I am intrigued by your reference to a "mentor" -- is this a formal aspect of management at your educational establishment or a personal relationship? Something we are considering developing at Houston Community College is a way of enabling peer-to-peer talks (and possibly even classroom visits!) that can help instructors improve their pedagogy without damaging their often fragile egos or involving the dreaded Administration -- if you have any pointers I am all eyes and ears!
Thanks for always adding value to my posts. I love hearing your perspective.
I have some tips on your peer-to-peer discussions.
First the mentor relationship I reference is an informal mentorship that evolved because I reached out to some one in the profession that once offered to help me think through some opportunities. They are now my go to person for career advice.
As far as teaching talks, I am grappling with the same problem you are facing. We need more measures and investment in teaching effectiveness. We are trying to build more opportunities for people to engage with each other on this topic but our efforts haven’t fully stuck.
We have a mentorship program for new faculty but that’s designed to help new faculty learn the hidden curriculum of new places.
Would love to talk more
We are in the early stage of developing a teaching development program. The beginning is to enable faculty to manifest 6 "Commitments" to enhance student feelings of belonging, under the Caring Campus program -- such things as engaging positively with students on the first day of class, using preferred names, take advantage of everyday moments to enable connection with students, teaching with a balance of rigor and compassion. Our faculty are as possessive of their independence as any -- even though (perhaps "because") this is a state-owned institution. As a result, and because this is -- and importantly, with the FULL SUPPORT of the Administration -- a faculty-led exercise, we are searching for ways to entice faculty to become more respectful -- more human -- with their students, without having the measurement of success become a part of their yearly job-related assessment. HCC as well as Texas is aware of the coming demographic cliff, so this is a way to maintain a high level of college graduates to staff knowledge industries in the state. I will keep you informed of progress.
Im loving these collaborations! Very sound advice and it is important to communicate your value. Especially since productivity comes in many forms.
Thanks! You are so on point. Productive comes in different forms! Stealing it