Margaret presenting at the Festival of Learning in 2018This is me at the Festival of Learning in 2018. As I recall, I was talking about how to create an emotionally safe classroom environment, particularly when discussing sensitive and emotive topics. When I began teaching, this was not something I thought consciously about; not because I didn’t think it important but more because I was too busy trying to figure how how to be a good teacher. As a novice, I equated ‘good teacher’ with getting through content, and making sure my students got good grades. For sure, in many instances these points are important – students sometimes have to take externally mandated tests and rely on their grades to get into the school they’re hoping to attend. Ironically, I now understand that part of being a good instructor is about acknowledging students as human beings who bring the whole of themselves into the classroom.

As I move into the role of being an Educational Developer, I know this is equally true when working with instructors. As I support faculty in their work, it is important to acknowledge both the road they have traveled so far, and the journey ahead. Each journey is as individual as the human being. In thinking about what my philosophy is, I’ve identified three key attributes of an Educational Developer:

  1. The Knowledge – to provide evidence-based and relevant support. Image result for quotes about listening
  2. The Ability to see different perspectives – the ability to reframe: what challenges is an instructor facing and how can these challenges be explored as opportunities for learning and growth?
  3. The Willingness to actively listen: to what is said and what is left unspoken.

Knowledge – Ability – Willingness

What this means for me is that my role can never be static. Classrooms are more diverse than they have ever been before and are sites of constant change. Being an Educational Developer means that, in addition to having up-to-date knowledge and skills to provide individual and context specific support to faculty colleagues in all aspects of pedagogical development and implementation, I should also have the willingness to step into the unknown, to listen with an open heart and open mind.