Hi, HEO!
Today is the day that I challenge you to collect data on your students for 16 weeks in a row (if your institution uses semester scheduling). If you do not teach by semesters, then, but mini-terms or sessions that last eight weeks, you can still collect data for eight weeks, and then for eight weeks, again. This data can be stored in The Professor’s Week in Review: A Journal for Weekly Reflections on the Higher Ed Experience. I call it The WIRe Journal for short. Committing to this practice is going to be a revelatory experience. I promise you that.
No matter how long you have been teaching, you will never know all there is to know about your students because students are humans who are being transformed by their experiences as they matriculate through this thing called life. Students that you taught ten years ago are probably markedly different from those you teach today. So, studying your students is a powerful practice that can truly impact the way that you serve your students through teaching and by playing an active role in their support system.
To assist you in this revelatory process, I have embedded a YouTube video as the foundation of this blog post. I encourage you to watch it and “write with me” as practice for what you will want to embark on this semester.
The prompt of focus is: “What did you learn about your students?” If you did not teach this summer, you can think about the past semester or session that you taught and let the words flow across the page.
The Power of Reflection
As a higher educator, you may find yourself immersed in your various roles and responsibilities while also trying to prioritize yourself and your personal life. As a result, it may be easy to overlook the significance of taking a step back and reflecting on your experiences with your students. I am sure you think about them and process them as you go along, and you may even take notes in a planner or notebook that you have designated for work. However, journaling creates a space for you to pause, ponder, and process the lessons you are learning about your students in a systematic way.
The 16-Week Journey
Based on my experience, I have listed what you might expect to learn although being open to whatever unfolds is the best way to approach this process.
Week 1-4: In the initial weeks, you’ll likely observe the surface-level traits of your students – their active participation, their communication styles, and their responses to various teaching methods.
Week 5-8: As you progress, you’ll start noticing subtle nuances in your students’ behavior, such as their individual interests, strengths, and challenges. This deeper insight will help you tailor your interactions with each student and foster a more supportive learning environment.
Week 9-12: By this stage, you’ll be able to discern the emotional aspects of your students’ academic journey. You may uncover personal struggles, aspirations, and goals that influence their engagement and performance in the classroom.
Week 13-16: As the semester nears its end, your reflections will be enriched with a holistic understanding of your students as whole individuals. Armed with this knowledge, you can provide personalized guidance and encouragement to help them succeed academically and beyond.
The Professor’s Week in Review gives you a space to review what you learn week by week. I suggest that you create a graphic organizer to enter your findings based on categories of information that you discover. I will share more about this in the video.
Creating a Community of Learning
Journaling not only benefits you but also contributes to creating a vibrant community of learning. Imagine if your entire department committed to this practice – the collective insights and wisdom gained could be used to make decisions about courses and programs, in general. There would be no way for programs to get stuck in the dark ages but they would be ever-changing, preparing students for the marketplace which is doing the same.
Share and Collaborate
Journaling is not about perfection; it’s about amplifying your personal and professional growth. Order your journal and spread the word to your colleagues. Wouldn’t it be great to embark on this journey with someone else?
Let’s pick up our pens and write together.
Wishing you an enlightening and enriching semester ahead!
Order Your Journal
My Publisher: https://bit.ly/thewirejournal (Discounts offered to those who purchase 10, 20, or more)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/40W4U4y
Gumroad: https://bit.ly/thefillablewire