Overcome the excuses we make that stop us from pursuing more professional development opportunities in this episode of Teaching in Higher Ed.
There's a sign posted in our local (and beloved) grocery store: Trader Joe's. “Please do not use this machine if you have not been trained,” it reads. The machine in question is a drink dispenser. As absurd as this is, in some cases, there's more training required to dispense raspberry lemonade than there is to teach a college class.
Guest: Dave Stachowiak
There are abundant resources out there for professional development, but we can sometimes be held back by our own excuses.
Professional development excuses and opportunities
Here are the most common excuses for not pursuing more training on how to teach and how to overcome each of them:
Not enough time
- Podcasts (Bonni's podcast recommendations)
- Audio books (Dave listens via Audible.com)
- A couple of audio books that Dave particularly enjoyed listening to lately on Audible:
- When you're waiting (Pocket)
Too hard to keep up
My discipline is unique
Nothing I've tried before works
- Filming or recording yourself teaching
My university doesn't dedicate resources for professional development
- Faculty development centers at other universities
- USC's Center for Teaching Excellence videos
- Grass roots efforts
- EdTech group at Vanguard
EdTech tools
JotPro stylus (Dave)
iAnnotate (Bonni)