I have never viewed myself as a teacher as I have always had a ton of questions and school was sometimes a struggle. However, when I think about teaching a list of impactful individuals come to mind including my parents, previous employers, preceptors, and mentors, yet none of them were in the profession of “teaching”. I was never made to feel inadequate but instead I was pushed to work hard, ask questions, and be persistent. Due to the positive influence that these individuals have had on my life, pharmacy education has become a part of my career that I wish to pursue.
By choosing a career in pharmacy, I have the opportunity to engage in life-long learning and provide education to a variety of individuals including patients, students, residents, and other healthcare professionals. I wish to provide encouraging guidance to help learners apply their knowledge in a way to best meet their full potential.
Students excel when the environment is conducive to asking questions.
An educator should treat learners with respect and create a space where students are not only made to feel comfortable with asking questions but also encouraged to do so. I believe this creates an opportunity for the students to engage in active discussion and in turn allows for them to start using critical thinking. The discussion may also bring about instances to include real life examples which make the topics more relatable and memorable.
Students benefit from receiving challenging yet attainable tasks.
The expectations an educator sets for the students should be challenging and require hard work. A student’s learning capabilities should not be underestimated as this does not cultivate critical thinking skills. It is important to make the expectations known from the beginning so that the students will work hard and strive to do their best. Students should be pushed to utilize their skills and knowledge in order to gain the most value for their time spent. However, the expectations must not be unattainable or inflexible. Educators should work with the students who are not meeting expectations and come up with a way to help them get there.
Providing specific feedback helps students bridge their gap in knowledge and develop a higher level of understanding.
Receiving timely and specific feedback provides learners with the chance to close the gaps in knowledge that they may have. I know from experience that receiving feedback soon after an activity or experience was more beneficial as it was fresh on the mind. It gives the students a chance to reflect on what might have prevented them from knowing the information and gives them time to develop a plan for how to obtain it. Educators should also provide feedback in different formats, such as verbal or written, since not all students learn the same way. Providing feedback helps students gain a higher level of understanding that they will hopefully carry with them in the future.
As I grow as an educator, I will continue to build on this philosophy and will always strive to improve, just as I will encourage my learners to do. I hope to motivate learners to succeed by displaying a positive and passionate attitude towards teaching and will give my time and effort in order to make it the most valuable experience for them.