Learning to Engage Students
Published or Revised September 12, 2013
Engaging students was the topic of a recent faculty development session at Paris Junior College. Economics Instructor Jeffrey Tarrant makes a point as, from left, PJC Vice President of Instruction Barbara Buchanan, Surgical Technology Instructor Norm Gilbert, and History Instructor Matt White listen. See more photos here.
This past spring, three instructors from Paris Junior College attended the Great Teaching Round-Up sponsored by the Texas Community College Teachers Association and came away inspired about sharing ideas for student engagement. They included Radiology Technology Coordinator and Instructor Karen Powers, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Instructor Jenna Ormsbee, and Learning Skills Instructor Pam Hunt.
“We acquired new ideas and inspiration about teaching,” said Powers, “and we thought it would be fun to bring it back to PJC and allow our instructors to benefit from the conference as well.”
The three approached PJC Vice President of Instruction Dr. Barbara Buchanan about bringing the ideas back to the college. She helped them turn it into a faculty development opportunity.
Two questions were sent out prior to the session. Instructors were asked to explain their greatest teaching strengths in engaging students in the classroom, especially on the first day and at the beginning of the semester, and explaining challenges experienced in the classroom. These answers were emailed back, and compiled for distribution to all instructors at PJC.
Participants broke into groups and addressed each question, allowing them to network with fellow instructors and gain more insights and resources on engaging students in the classroom.
They also shared a technique learned to enliven an audience.
“Jenna taught them to make a lion and lemon faces,” Powers explained. “First you’re a lion and cup your hands like paws and growl really big and loud, then you pucker like you have just eaten a lemon. This gets your blood going. Alternating the two gets the audience to loosen up and have fun.”
An evaluation was done, asking if the session was beneficial to instructors. It also asked what challenge the instructor would address and what strength was learned from the workshop.
“We were pleased with the turnout of instructors,” Powers said. “We are our best resources. We’re here to work together, to learn from each other and to help each other out. Seasoned instructors can help mentor new instructors. We wanted to provide this opportunity to our instructors prior to classes so they could implement some of the new ideas this semester to engage students.
“PJC instructors are the best!”
