10/15 Blog

The reading in Teaching Tips this week ring very true to our workplace environment. Our staff works with factors of motivation on a regular basis. We are asked to identify how we find value. Along with how are we motivated.

As a staff we practice both attribution theory and expectancy value theory. Our Director is a visionary in leadership and works with each of us on an individual basis identifying our stregnths and areas for improvement. Based on our personal development, those of us which supervise staff are charged with student development.

One of the major goals for student development is to determine the student needs and how we meet them. How is each of our student motivated?

I find the similarities between the teaching tips and our workplace environment very interesting. It appears to me that tips and techniques we learn in this class can be used in the workplace and not just a classroom. Yes, you may have to make adaptations but the concept is the same.

Although I am not in a classroom, I work with students planning their events on a daily basis. Much of the discussion in the second chapter of our reading applies to my job. Listening and understanding what the student needs are is the first step we take. My staff and myself often find ourselves working with many cultural differences and helping them understand our policies and procedures presents it own set of challenges. I am grateful for the suggestions offered in our text and share information with my staff on a regular basis in regard to working with students and understanding their needs.

Leaner-centered learning is a neat concept. I truly believe that at times professors can get stuck in ruts (per say) and maintain an attitude of why fix it if it is not broken. I tink in these situations it may be beneficial to both the student and instructor if they listen to student input. It may present an opportunity to challenge the instructor to think outside the box or create new ways on presenting information. In addition, it may also spark renewed interest on the part of the instructor.