We all need proof of worth

James — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:38:54 +0000

How do you know what you are doing has any value beyond allowing you to pay your bills?

Do you actually care?

I do!

And like many professors I often wonder if anything I am doing is actually having an impact on the future.

By the future I mean are my students taking any of the lessons, internalizing them in some way and making use of the aggregate in the future.

Well last night I had a conversation with 2002 Zayed University graduate, one of the 1st students I taught int he UAE.

Sure this is not a statistical sample!

But there is no question that the education WE provided at Zayed University had an impact on this student, even if it was tiny, it was an impact.

Farah is doing some very clever things and has a hunger to engage in social experiments!

It made me feel pretty good to know that this person thought that there was some value to the education I helped deliver.

I think we need to see and hear the product of what we do in the ivory tower a little more often!

Thanks Farah!

You know you are doing something right.

James — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:17:36 +0000

How often do you look in the mirror after you have done a days work and ask, “is it getting through?”

I suspect all too often we miss the signs that what we are doing is having an impact.

Today I was working with a class on an end of term project and gave the all clear to leave 20 minutes early.

The usual reaction of students is to run!

Today as I sat at a desk after giving the all clear command I was in shock!

For 25 minutes 2 groups of students were planning, debating and organizing the work they had to do for the project.

And best of all they were working as if I was not there! The bonus for me was that I got a chance to listen in on the thinking process.

My verdict?

Something got through, I am doing something right.