Fall semester draws near.
With the approach of the next academic year, I am reminded about the purpose of education. For students, the atmosphere of learning enlightens the promise of the future. Careers and knowledge about subject and life converge in this environment. Growth and discovery are, like John Dewey stated, the full measure of learning.
As I revise my syllabus for an Introduction to Mass Communication course, I reflect upon the role of the professor. Are we the "sage on the stage" or the "guide by the side" in this educational process? Faculty, clearly, must be experts on their subject---researchers, practitioners, innovators. If students are to fully learn, then professors must do more than profess, or tell, about a discipline. Guiding, and therefore mentoring, students needs to be an important objective of all instructors. Supporting intellectual and creative discovery should be paramount to the teaching-learning dynamic.
No discipline requires this feature more than Mass Communication, with ample opportunities for project, presentation and portfolio experiences. As I craft my teaching plan, the excitement that students will read new material, research unknown areas, speak on media-related issues and learn more about themselves cannot be contained.
Tuesday morning cannot arrive soon enough.
Hello fellow IMC people, just posting on here to keep up.
ReplyDeleteIt is so great to have professors that are so dedicated to teaching. It is such a huge difference from high school. You no longer have the football coach teaching you history or the theatre director teaching English. Having such educated professors really keeps you motivated to reaching your goals.
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