NFE Reflections Wade 2008-9
From CTLpedia
MCC New Faculty Experience Reflections
James Wade
Library
Mesa Community College
Please don't contact me (mailto:jwade@mesacc.edu)
Contents |
Teaching
Courses Taught 2008-9
LIB 262 Canceled
My Teaching Philosophy
I remember as a youth that my teachers wanted me to memorize multiplication tables up to 12's. I refused and questioned why. They responded with "that is learning." In my way back then, I said "bullshit, that is memorization. To answer your question would be recitation, with neither understanding nor comprehension. Tell me why and I will have learned." Even then, I knew the difference between memorizing facts and knowing processes. I learned processes. Even today those other students and I can still do multiplication in our heads. I am a bit slower than the others, but I can multiply higher than to 144.
A true education doesn't make you a walking encyclopedia of facts and figures. A true education is when you know exactly which book or database will reveal the fact or figure that you are looking for within your area of specialty. A solid education is when you know who to ask outside of your area for the correct facts and figures. A perfect education is when you ask the correct questions the first time each time. A real education is what happens when you leave school and start working.
I thank God that I don't have to teach as a librarian. I instruct and that is plenty. If you ask me how I spend my time, I just may answer with: half of my time is spent convincing teachers that libraries have changed since they were in college, and that not everything electronic is evil. The other half is spent trying to convince students just to use the library for something other than MySpace.
I think that it is natural that the teachers I remember were the ones that influenced me the most. They made learning fun, and they all had a great since of humor. Albeit they did not share the same style of humor, they all had a sense of humor, none the less. I try to infuse humor into my own instructions. After all, it is hard to take what you teach too seriously when you realize that half the science and 90% of what was learned about libraries in school is now obsolete.
Professional Development
Professional Development Activities 2008-9
Course Name Status
Constr Syllabus Completed
Safe Space II Completed
Safe Space I Completed
Legal Issues Completed
Pblc Steward Completed
New Empl Orient Completed
Tech Lit Guide Completed
AED and CPR Completed
Other Professional Training
Course Name Course End Date
CNFL0809 09/03/2008
ENRLFL08 09/03/2008
HREL0809 09/03/2008
INSTFL08 10/13/2008
ENRLSP09 02/02/2009
INSTSP09 02/02/2009
Professional Development Goals 2009-10
My professional development goals for the following year are Zilch. I wish to spend more time on local committees and get more involved in campus activities. I will resume P.D. when I become a permanent employee and can take advantage of travel, etc,. and get involved with meaningful workshops.
I will still try to work in the First Aid class to complement the CPR I have already taken.
Reflection on my Experience in the NFE Community
5 Slides [here]
Understanding of MCC Culture Gained through NFE
TYPE YOUR TEXT HERE
Impact of NFE on my Approach to Teaching
I never even knew I had a teaching philosophy prior to NFE.
Reflection on My Future as a Member of the MCC Community
I have been offered a continuation on my OYO contract, so I will continue to ride in limbo for at least another year. Perhaps in the future I could write a paragraph or two about how much it means to me to be a part of this campus. For now, my answer is to wait and see.
Categories: NFE | 2008-9
