Reflections

Where I was.

At the beginning of my teaching journey, my primary aim was to simplify the learning process, making it more efficient and convenient for students. This philosophy was grounded in the belief that the integration of technologies and tools in education should be driven by actual needs, rather than their mere availability or prevailing trends. I observed how the rush to adopt "modern tools" often seemed unwarranted and could even undermine learning effectiveness, requiring students to grapple with new technologies that, at times, added complexity rather than value to their educational experience.

Despite my extensive experience with media technologies—including photography, videography, video editing, and studio production—I approached the idea of integrating these skills into my educational practice with caution. This hesitance was rooted in a desire to preserve the simplicity and efficiency of the learning environment, wary of introducing new technological challenges that could distract from learning objectives.

Equally, I grappled with the concept of humanizing the online course environment. Sharing personal aspects of myself with students was outside my comfort zone. It wasn't about feeling ashamed of my personal life; rather, I believed those details were private, meant only for me. Furthermore, the thought of adopting a more socially active and energetic persona in educational settings made me uncomfortable. The pressure to share more of my personality with students felt like being pushed to assume a persona that didn't align with my authentic self. This initial reluctance to merge my personal and professional sides was a significant barrier to embracing the full scope of humanizing my courses, reflecting a broader challenge of how best to foster genuine connections and an inclusive atmosphere without compromising my personal boundaries.

Where I am.

The journey through the Humanizing STEM Academy has been transformative, serving as a critical bridge that encouraged me to step beyond the boundaries of my initial hesitations and integrate a more personal and technological approach into my teaching. This program has not only enabled me to align teaching strategies with my authentic self but also provided structured guidance that showcased the significance of humanizing elements within the STEM curriculum. As a result, I have become more open to sharing aspects of my personal experiences and media technology skills with students, recognizing the power of these elements to foster a more engaging and inclusive learning environment.

By engaging with the academy, I discovered that the effective use of media technologies could be seamlessly blended into educational practices without compromising the simplicity and efficiency of the learning process. This realization marked a departure from my earlier stance of keeping my professional and personal sides distinct, opening up avenues to enrich student learning experiences through the integration of my media expertise.

Furthermore, the academy's focus on humanizing the classroom, rather than strictly on performance metrics, encouraged me to explore teaching approaches that better align with my personality and values. This shift highlighted the critical importance of empathy, presence, and building personal connections in education. It changed my view on the role of bringing my entire self into my teaching practices. Now, I view the integration of my personal experiences and media technology expertise not as an extra effort but as valuable assets. These elements contribute to making my courses more dynamic and relevant, enhancing student engagement, and promoting a richer understanding of the material.

Where I am going.

Motivated by the valuable lessons from the Humanizing STEM Academy, I'm poised to further embed the humanizing concepts and media integration strategies into my courses. My next steps involve a thorough review and enhancement of program materials, such as the syllabus and introductory videos, tailoring them more closely to reflect my unique teaching approach and address the diverse needs of my students.

To assess the effectiveness of these adapted practices, I plan to collect detailed feedback through surveys and casual discussions with students, aiming to understand their perspectives on the changes. This direct input will be instrumental in fine-tuning my course content and methods, with the goal of not only elevating student performance and satisfaction but also fostering a sense of belonging and engagement in the learning process.

By persistently marrying my background in media technologies with the principles of humanized teaching, I'm dedicated to cultivating an educational environment that is not only more inclusive and interactive but also resonates with the students on a personal level, thereby enhancing their overall learning experience.