I could have been a professional student: even while I was completing my own studies, I was always looking around at what my friends were learning in other programs, what opportunities they were experiencing, what classes they were taking… If I could have, I probably would have studied just about everything! And today, the impulse hasn’t gone away: I’m curious about what my students are learning in their courses and programs, and what their own learning paths are, and I’m also curious about what my colleagues are doing in their classrooms, and why.
It’s the why that I don’t always have time for, though: I get caught up in the cycle of prep, delivery, and assessment, and it often seems like the most I can do to improve my teaching is to make minor adjustments on the fly. When I squeeze a professional development opportunity into my teaching calendar, it can be difficult to take a step back from the day-to-day (and hour-by-hour!) to think about how to make larger, more significant changes based on what I’ve learned from chatting with a colleague, reading a paper, or attending a workshop.
This might be why I particularly enjoy this time of year: it gives me opportunities to engage with others in the why of their teaching, and to step back from some of the immediacies of instruction and really learn from development opportunities so that I can better review and improve my own practices. So, for example, I’m looking forward to hearing from Dave Cormier in his keynote address, “Learning in a time of abundance”, during Celebrate Learning Week, attending presentations at the Thompson-Okanagan Teaching and Learning Conference, and reading publications that colleagues at the CTL have recently recommended. Most of all, though, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to think through the why of how others approach teaching, and bringing that into my own pedagogy.
I hope you’re also able to take advantage of similar opportunities, as well as to rest and recover from a busy term and year, and then to reflect and get ready for what’s next in your instructional path – whether supervising students, developing new programming, or teaching in May, July or September. All the best in your teaching and your ongoing development!
Subscribe