I meant to complete this reflection yesterday but got distracted by an unplanned social event. Now awake since pre-dawn on a mellow Saturday morning, I think this situation represents a constructive and positive mindset of appreciating unexpected possibilities. For me, learning always happens in this context, and the best classroom teaching experiences seem to embody similar characteristics.
Although busy as always over the past two weeks, the expectation that I check in to the DF modules each day created opportunities for me to pause and do/think something new. I read about topics I would not normally encounter in my work or personal life; I considered experiences and expertise from really smart and creative people outside of my own realm; and I felt inspired by what I could do differently going forward. I feel most excited about finding new ways to have fun teaching and to make learning more fun for students. They know SO much but I think they need more ways to share what they know with each other and gain confidence in their abilities.
When I applied for DF, I was hoping to learn about specific tools and technologies that I could incorporate into my teaching. I wanted someone to tell me what existed and show me how to use it. Once I realized that was not the point of this course and let go of those expectations, I began thinking about what I really wanted to DO instead of what tools I could USE. The creativity that can so easily get lost when we are busy teaching had reappeared and sparked a sense of innovation.
The next step for me is to set a time to meet with Martha and figure out how I can make my ideas happen. In general, I want students to take a more active role in what they are learning through creating and maintaining some kind of a dynamic product, one that unfolds with the scaffolded content of the class and grows with their collective input of knowledge and experiences. This goal feels challenging in a discipline as complex and rigorous as nursing, but I think students would benefit from the increased creative and active learning process. As always, fairness and equity are foremost in my mind, and I think there are ways of accomplishing my idea that will reduce the power differential in the teacher-learner dynamic and increase students’ sense of competence.
