“Teaching is not about delivering content. That is a given. It is about drastically changing lives! Miss that and you miss the point”—Coyte Cooper
As a college professor, my career focus has shifted over the last eighteen-plus years. Early on it was all about content (or at least it seemed to be). I was shaping lectures to cram as much content into my students’ heads, hoping that the majority would stick. For the purposes of tenure and promotion, university professors are evaluated on three areas: scholarship, teaching, and service. These are measured in terms of publications, teaching evaluations, and committee work.
Now that I am tenured (for the second time) and have been promoted to the rank of Professor, there is less need to document these. As I enter into my 19th year as a university professor, I am reevaluating my efforts. For one thing, my income is no longer affected by my performance (or lack thereof) in these areas. I could publish 10 articles a year in high-impact professional peer-reviewed journals, and I will get the same annual increase as my colleague—as the collective bargaining agreement dictates. I can get good or bad evaluations—and I can justify them, if I need to—but no one is going to really pay great attention. I can add to or take away from my committee work with little notice. In other words, I have earned the right to coast—so to speak.
Other the years, though, my greatest job satisfaction has come in the success of my students. It is rewarding to see my students become successful doctors, physician assistants, nurses, physical/occupational therapists, athletic trainers, personal trainer, and strength coaches, as well as a host of other careers. This is great, but what I have found is that my greater reward is in seeing my students become leaders—to see them become spouses, parents, and genuinely good people. I can teach all the content in the world, but so can a book, Google, and YouTube (O.K., the latter of these are a bit more tongue-in-cheek, but nonetheless a source of “knowledge” for people). In reality, with the Internet, teaching has changed—or should change. Most anyone has access to information. I can study medicine online (again, being a bit sarcastic). So, what, now is my role as a teacher?
I believe Coyte captures this question quite well. The role of teacher has become one of changing lives. This has, of course, always been the role of teachers, but I believe the opportunity better presents itself in the present age. Education can become more than simply delivery content. We teachers—particularly college professors—can focus on shaping worldviews.
Now, when I say a teacher should shape worldviews, I don’t mean that teachers should be god and create others in his/her image. Rather, teachers need to allow students to process information and shape that student’s own worldview—ideal one that is shaped “better” than the views of one’s collective faculty. In other words, as a professor, I need to prepare my students to challenge present thought and to seek better thoughts. Thus, teachers should, themselves, have a worldview that is evolving.
All of us, whether teacher or of some other profession, should be seeking to have an impact on the lives we touch. When we interact with another individual, both persons should walk away better in some way for the communication.
Being a person of impact requires personal growth. If we are not ourselves seeking to become better, we cannot expect to lead others to grow. A seed, after all, cannot grow in barren soil.
Whatever your profession and wherever you might be in your career, make it your purpose to have a positive impact on the lives you touch.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow!
Carpe momento!