On February 13th, Joann observed my in-person EXS101 class. When she came in, we were completing a review activity/game using whiteboards and a movement element. In Joann's feedback (included below) she noted that my students were engaged and that the activity enhanced learning.
I will definitely consider her suggestion of reducing the number of teams to make scoring easier. I like using small groups because it provides each student with a louder voice in the team discussions, but having 6 small groups does make it challenging to keep score.
In Joann's feedback, she said that I bring out the best in my students and complimented me for being positive and supportive both with my students and with my colleagues. I am very pleased that she believes I am positive and supportive as a coworker. I am truly grateful Joann. She has been so incredibly encouraging and kind. Her input, advice, and ideas have been extremely helpful to me.
Joann said, "Thank you for inviting me to observe your EXS101 class on Feb 13! I truly enjoyed the opportunity to see you in action!
I observed students very engaged in a midterm review game. Students were set up in 6 groups and worked together to answer questions on google slides. Points were awarded for correct and timely answers. The game was very organized and included explanation slides on concepts that appeared difficult. Time was used to enhance the gaming aspect and created a very fun learning environment. Students were competing against time and each other, yet were respectful. I noticed that you provided positive feedback and reinforcement with each student's answer which helped their confidence and "buy in" even if the exercise science concepts or the "throwing" aspect of the game were difficult. I liked that you built in points for a variety of knowledge levels and athletic abilities.
I can't think of any ideas to improve the game other than reduce the number of groups so it's easier to keep track of points!
Erika, you have a gift of bringing out the best in students with your positive and supportive nature. The exercise science concepts weren't easy and the game aspect was challenging, yet every student participated and didn't give up. Students encouraged each other whether they won or lost. The positive way you interact with students created an excellent learning environment and at the same time, was a great role model for them. These positive and encouraging characteristics will undoubtedly become a part of the student's approach when interacting with clients in the future.
As a faculty member in our Fitness and Wellness Department, I noticed your positive and supportive nature when you interact with each faculty and staff member. You are quick to show appreciation and have a knack of framing things in a positive way. I believe these attributes are helpful when supervising the online courses for our department. I am very grateful to be your colleague!"
On January 8th, Joann observed my online classes, I observed elements in her online classes, and we met regarding my role as the eCourse coordinator. Since she acted as eCourse coordinator in the past, I wanted to pick her brain, see how she interacted with the instructors she worked with, and learn about the strategies she used to complete the job successfully. I observed and reviewed the feedback she provided on past evaluations and the communications she sent to provide support. We discussed the upcoming evaluations, online expectations, and how to address a challenging online adjunct instructor. Joann and I reviewed the course/instructor evaluation form that is currently used by our department. Last year, Joann and I drafted expectations for online instructors and we revisited those expectations and discussed our thoughts. We would love to encourage the online instructors to increase their engagement to support student success, so it is important to set high expectations. We agree that successful online instructors actively engage in the class discussions, provide meaningful feedback, and respond in a timely manner.
There are a few online instructors who have been around for a long time and are resistant to change. I have been reaching out to these instructors regularly to build rapport, share resources, and offer support. Joann helped me draft a few difficult emails and shared with me the successful strategies she had used in the past. Her insight helped me communicate with these instructors in a manner that was kind and supportive while encouraging them to be better instructors. Joann stressed the value of maintaining a positive relationship and caring tone while provided constructive feedback. I will always consider Joann's supportive way of encouraging success when I work with the online instructors.
On December 11th, I had the opportunity to observe my peer mentor Joann Pell. Joann and I have been discussing the honors HES100 (Healthful Living) class she has been teaching throughout the semester. Joann would like me to take this class over, so she has been providing me with information on how the honors program works and strategies that she uses to successfully challenge her honor students.
In addition to increased rigor, critical thinking, and additional research papers, one of the main differences between the honors section and the traditional section is the honors project. Students in the honors course are required to work collaboratively to determine a need on campus, research the need, and then solve the problem or present possible solutions.
Last semester, her students completed their project to determine why less than 4% of the GCC student population enrolls in the Fitness Center on campus. They gathered data through student surveys, evaluated that data, researched solutions, developed recommendations, and then presented what they found. I really enjoyed learning about the process and watching the honors students present. I was impressed by how poised the speaker was and by how professional their handouts were. They did an excellent job of compiling and presenting the data in a visually appealing and applicable way.
This observation was really helpful to me because it provided me with insight on what to expect from honors students. If I teach an honors class, I want to make sure that I am encouraging my students to complete a quality project and that I am challenging them at an appropriate level. I will continue to meet with Joann and observe her classes to learn more.