I need it, maybe you do too.

I'm making a commitment to myself as an educator and to my current and future students. I know that I will be a better facilitator if I regularly reflect on my teaching and learning experiences. I've had the opportunity to experience the power of self-reflection many times as a student, and now I have had the chance to see it's affect on my students. I'm awed by the apparent immensity of the impact of the simple act of stopping to think. Of course, like any educational process, there are varying levels of success, and much hinges on the amount of effort an individual employs, but I am seeing that the value is there regardless of whether or not the students can see it in the present moment.

I trust the andragogical process. I am resisting the urges to answer the questions immediately when I see that over the quarter the trends in the posts to the discussion forum grew to allow the possibility that the value in keeping a record of one's learning may be more apparent over time. The students can figure that out, they are already. The comments they made clearly indicated that on the whole, they know that they have to learn to learn as an individual, as they will never be in the position of being "done". That is the truth of health science practice, you are committing to always being a learner, as the field changes constantly. Once a clinician is graduated and licensed, the lesson-planning and evaluation falls to them. My thought is that it will be an easier transition if they begin to evaluate themselves as freshmen. We shall see...

For myself, I am going to walk the talk more regularly, and keep my own feet to the reflection fire. I will use this space to contemplate the educational process. I will share my triumphs and my blunders in the hope of growing my ability to focus on my learners and better facilitate their professional growth. I know I need the mental exercise, and perhaps at times I will say something that will be of use to someone else. Again, we shall see...