Thriving in Academe

Presenting the Effective Teacher!

College profesors must learn to promote themselves as effective teachers.
by W. Alan Wright, Dalhousie University, Canada

In today's climate, documenting teaching effectiveness should become a priority for all college and university faculty.

Sooner or later all college teachers are required to demonstrate their teaching effectiveness. Whether the task relates to a job search, a bid for promotion, a file for an honor or teaching award, or a routine annual report, academic life demands that we "make our case" in writing.

The wise teacher takes the importance of documenting teaching effectiveness seriously.

This means keeping careful records and updating files on an on-going basis.

While there is, to be sure, nothing particularly exciting in the act of record-keeping itself, there are definite and sometimes tangible rewards in the process and in the outcomes.

Furthermore, many seasoned teachers have realized that the reflective process involved in examining their teaching has improved their performance and given them new pride and direction in their profession. It is important that we overcome a feeling of resistance to spending time on the task of documenting teaching effectiveness.

We can and should get on with the job of examining practical tips on how to meet that challenge.

Meet Alan Wright
Instructional development director Alan Wright has taught in settings ranging from the elementary school classroom to the graduate seminar and the adult education certificate. When he is not coaxing Dalhousie University teachers to record their teaching activities, aspirations, and accomplishments, Alan enjoys escaping to the great outdoors to run, ski, or kayak near his home in Nova Scotia. After 25 consecutive years of marathon running, he has recently claimed the activity as part of his lifestyle! Alan can be reached at Alan.Wright@dal.ca.

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