The amount you are comfortable sharing with others about your life can greatly open up what is possible. In my ESL classroom here in Korea... I tell my students that they can ask me any question that they want... I am not afraid of scary questions...I do warn them about scary answers though. But, there are certain boundaries that I have put in place. The first are from my wife, she is not as comfortable with my openness to questions and has asked a few topics be on the NO GO list. The second, and this one is one that I hold my self to a strict standard about not telling someone else's story. I don't relay news about other people. it is their story to share. I try very hard not to relay things that I haven't observed myself or verified. If someone gives me permission to share a story, then I may... But opening up and allowing our students to see us make mistakes and that we are human greatly encourages our students to follow our example. Lead by example! Great video!
Such great advice here! I do agree that we have set our own boundaries as leaders and also professionals in our industry. There is a line of being too comfortable with your students that shouldn't be crossed and I really appreciate your approach you've shared here. We all make mistakes and we are all human. Have you seen the Bob Ross documentary yet? "Happy Mistakes" is a great quote I took away from it. Lead by example yes and thank you for watching the video!!
I am a Psych professor at a community college and one thing I have always done is talk about examples from my own life to further illustrate the ideas and research I am presenting to my students. I talk about going through the illness and death of my Dad, going through a divorce, struggling with depression as an undergrad, repairing relationships with family members, my experience in psychoanalysis, etc. It has been a struggle at times being that vulnerable and taking about my emotions, regrets, mistakes, etc. But, the feedback I have received from my students is overwhelmingly positive. In my evaluations students always remark on how real I am and how my vulnerability and candor have helped them become more vulnerable and less self-critical, while also being more self-reflective. Even years later, some of my students have emailed me and let me know that something I said has impacted their lives and helped them in some way. I also try to keep certain things in mind when I am creating assignments and grading, like equity, disability status, and making sure the assignments contain an element of leaning that students can make use of immediately in their own lives. Thank you for this inspiring content and for doing such a great job at an educator!
Thank you so much for sharing this Polly. I always find student evaluations an excellent way to gauge how students respond and also what they pick up on regarding our teaching. That vulnerability is scary indeed. I feel you on that. It sounds like you are making positive impact on them as humans and they are remembering that as they move thorough their lives. Congrats to you :)
Oh, on a side note... My university sprang the use of CANVAS on us without any notification. Watching your videos for myself and my coworkers was a LIFESAVER. Thank you so much!
That is awesome! Well, not awesome that they forced that shift to Canvas so quickly on you and your colleagues but I'm so glad that the videos helped. I know how overwhelming that transition can be especially if you don't feel like you have enough support or guidance. Is there anything I haven't covered in my tutorial series for Canvas yet that would be beneficial for you right now? Here's a quick link to the series: th-cam.com/play/PLit_70db88TTVKUlrn-xdwO02QtVN5JzP.html
also .... side note back to you... I love the bitmoji things in your teaching videos on your channel!! Such a great way to showcase emotion using a cool carton version of yourself. Isn't technology wild these days?
Ashlee, you're deserving of an abundance of abundance: subscribers, personal-professional opportunities, and all good things. Because all you have to do is look at how much you give. Thank you!
What's one way you might try using vulnerability in your classroom?
The amount you are comfortable sharing with others about your life can greatly open up what is possible. In my ESL classroom here in Korea... I tell my students that they can ask me any question that they want... I am not afraid of scary questions...I do warn them about scary answers though. But, there are certain boundaries that I have put in place. The first are from my wife, she is not as comfortable with my openness to questions and has asked a few topics be on the NO GO list. The second, and this one is one that I hold my self to a strict standard about not telling someone else's story. I don't relay news about other people. it is their story to share. I try very hard not to relay things that I haven't observed myself or verified. If someone gives me permission to share a story, then I may...
But opening up and allowing our students to see us make mistakes and that we are human greatly encourages our students to follow our example. Lead by example!
Great video!
Such great advice here! I do agree that we have set our own boundaries as leaders and also professionals in our industry. There is a line of being too comfortable with your students that shouldn't be crossed and I really appreciate your approach you've shared here. We all make mistakes and we are all human. Have you seen the Bob Ross documentary yet? "Happy Mistakes" is a great quote I took away from it. Lead by example yes and thank you for watching the video!!
I am a Psych professor at a community college and one thing I have always done is talk about examples from my own life to further illustrate the ideas and research I am presenting to my students. I talk about going through the illness and death of my Dad, going through a divorce, struggling with depression as an undergrad, repairing relationships with family members, my experience in psychoanalysis, etc. It has been a struggle at times being that vulnerable and taking about my emotions, regrets, mistakes, etc. But, the feedback I have received from my students is overwhelmingly positive. In my evaluations students always remark on how real I am and how my vulnerability and candor have helped them become more vulnerable and less self-critical, while also being more self-reflective. Even years later, some of my students have emailed me and let me know that something I said has impacted their lives and helped them in some way. I also try to keep certain things in mind when I am creating assignments and grading, like equity, disability status, and making sure the assignments contain an element of leaning that students can make use of immediately in their own lives. Thank you for this inspiring content and for doing such a great job at an educator!
Thank you so much for sharing this Polly. I always find student evaluations an excellent way to gauge how students respond and also what they pick up on regarding our teaching. That vulnerability is scary indeed. I feel you on that. It sounds like you are making positive impact on them as humans and they are remembering that as they move thorough their lives. Congrats to you :)
Oh, on a side note... My university sprang the use of CANVAS on us without any notification. Watching your videos for myself and my coworkers was a LIFESAVER. Thank you so much!
That is awesome! Well, not awesome that they forced that shift to Canvas so quickly on you and your colleagues but I'm so glad that the videos helped. I know how overwhelming that transition can be especially if you don't feel like you have enough support or guidance. Is there anything I haven't covered in my tutorial series for Canvas yet that would be beneficial for you right now? Here's a quick link to the series: th-cam.com/play/PLit_70db88TTVKUlrn-xdwO02QtVN5JzP.html
also .... side note back to you... I love the bitmoji things in your teaching videos on your channel!! Such a great way to showcase emotion using a cool carton version of yourself. Isn't technology wild these days?
Ashlee, you're deserving of an abundance of abundance: subscribers, personal-professional opportunities, and all good things. Because all you have to do is look at how much you give. Thank you!
Thank you so much!! Sometimes I think we all need that little extra nudge of support so I'm grateful for your comment 💜 Are you a Brené Brown fan?