A Personal Reflection on a Recent Pedagogy Symposium
Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to present at the ACCA Pedagogy Symposium. It was a whirlwind experience filled with excitement, nerves, and a whole lot of learning. My presentation, “Leveraging corporate training, organizational development, and community-building techniques to facilitate learning,” aimed to challenge traditional teaching methods and explore more engaging approaches.
Why This Topic?
As a new adjunct professor in 2024, I had the task of developing curriculae for both marketing management and human resource management courses in BrightSpace largely from scratch because previous courses did not sequence the course for the full 14 weeks of the semester. I made a goal for myself to create a truly impactful learning experience that tied real-world work to the academic content. Based on my experience in college and grad school, traditional lecture-based approaches, while effective in certain contexts, often fall short of engaging students and fostering deep learning.
Inspired by Kirkpatrick’s New World Model, I sought to integrate various active learning techniques into my course design. By incorporating discussions, case studies, quizzes, and projects, I aimed to create a more immersive and interactive learning environment tied to (albeit fictional) organizational goals and the course learning objectives.
A Little Levity about Imposter Syndrome
I illustrated the following cartoon strip featuring Hermie, the HR Hermit Crab. As Harmonious Workplaces prepares to launch our first collaborative book featuring Hermie, you’ll learn more about this organizational change champion. We hope you enjoy this cartoon.
Download a PDF copy of this cartoon.
A Journey of Self-Doubt and Triumph
As a relatively new adjunct professor, I faced a significant hurdle: imposter syndrome. Despite my years of experience in training and development, I couldn’t shake the feeling of inadequacy. However, I aimed to overcome this self-doubt and share my knowledge with others while remaining open to feedback and critique.
The presentation experience itself nerve-wracked my nerves a bit. I had prepared meticulously, crafting a concise 10-slide presentation that could be delivered within 20 minutes with some time left for questions. While the low turnout initially disappointed me, I was grateful for the support of my Trinity Christian College colleagues who attended.
I received positive comments from the audience when I elicited their feedback. Attendees expressed appreciation for the practical tips and insights I shared, and they offered some insightful suggestions. However, the sting of the low survey rating delivered a harsh reality check and fed my imposter syndrome further. It reminded me that even the best-laid plans can sometimes fall short and made me think, “What made me think I belonged here?”
The Power of Community
I want to express my sincere gratitude to my supportive network on LinkedIn and Facebook. Sharing my feelings of imposter syndrome helped me realize I wasn’t alone. I found the encouragement and empathy I received from my peers invaluable to my ability to learn and grow from this experience.
Share Your Thoughts
Despite the initial emotional setback, I now feel proud of what I accomplished, although I know I need to refine my skills for next time. This experience has made me a better educator and speaker, and I eagerly wish to continue exploring innovative teaching methods. I thank God for the experience.
To further the discussion, I invite you to review my presentation:
Please share your thoughts and feedback. Let’s continue the conversation and work together to improve the quality of education.
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