Teachable Moments from Teaching
The opportunity to step in front of a post-secondary class of learners on a part-time basis was one I jumped at a couple of years ago. When I think back to the very first day, I am embarrassed.
Uptight? Untrusting? Cautious? Check, check, check!
Thankfully, my comfort level grew. These are the teachable moments from that experience.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE PROCESS
Stepping in front of a classroom was not a new experience. Public speaking and facilitating are roles I am comfortable in. It is the behind-the-scenes process that I have grown to enjoy. This is where the majority of time is spent: developing and planning. Seeking real-world examples, getting creative with presenting concepts and reflecting on what worked/didn’t work in class with the goal of continuous improvement.
Doing it right takes time and a willingness to keep trying different approaches.
Beyond the planning, time is also an investment in the quality of feedback given. Grades are only one aspect of feedback.
Effective communication skills are required for every single person. Whether asking for a raise, presenting your ideas to coworkers or leading a meeting. For that reason, when my students do a presentation, they don’t simply receive a grade and move on.
They each receive commentary on how they presented the material. If a student is a great verbal communicator, they need to know it. I cannot assume anyone else has ever opened their eyes to a natural talent (and how rare it is!). Providing pointers for how to improve communication for students who need it is equally important. What’s the point in asking for a presentation if there is no opportunity to learn from the experience of communicating?
MAKING A CONNECTION
Opening myself up beyond the immediate concerns of the classroom makes for a richer experience.
I have given pointers on resumes, mock-interviewed students and even offered assistance in navigating challenges they face in the workplace. Students have been connected to career opportunities, networking resources and upcoming events.
Am I a proud momma hen? Damn right I am!
Although my students have included high academic achievers, the celebratory moments extend into their personal and professional lives. I remember starting a second-semester class with an opportunity to share any accomplishments or experiences students had during their break.
A few students had landed jobs, some had advanced in the permanent residency process (I teach a heavily international class) yet one student knocked them all out of the park: announcing that they married since we last saw them! The joy I felt as the whole class clapped as the achievements were stated and then all sat in stunned silence for a second before erupting into cheers upon hearing a wedding announcement – well, that will stay with me for a long, long time.
Making these connections also extends post-graduation.
My LinkedIn messages include career updates, requests for professional advice and baby pics.
Do you know how cool it is that with everything going on in their lives, a former student takes the time to reach out?
Pure. Joy.
TEACHING THROUGH TEARS
While my role is to guide adult learners through the course material, I cannot do this in isolation from what is happening in the world. I make space in our classroom, virtual nowadays, to check in with students and see how they are doing. It is a small gesture that opens a wider conversation about feeling overwhelmed, confused and anxious.
Beyond the mental health implications of trying to learn during a worldwide pandemic, are the uncertainties my students face regarding open and closed borders and ever-changing travel requirements.
The determination and commitment of my students are nothing short of inspiring.
I’ve had students join online classes from quiet corners at work and held one on one sessions at unusual hours to allow students to maintain their roles as essential workers. The global headlines you read about uprisings and unrest overseas in recent years? My students have had families swept up in those events. They try to keep learning through all of this. And, in what is the worst experience for any teacher, I’ve shared the grief of a student’s life taken far too soon.
An empty desk has never loomed so large.
Several times I cried in the car after a class or at home following a student call. The emotional weight is significant but I know it is not mine to carry and I have to let it go in order to be the person they need me to be.
I know I’m supposed to be the teacher, yet it seems, I am the one receiving the teachable moments.
