Dr. J's Blog

Would you be surprised to know that a hobby could help you tap into your unlimited potential? Yes, everyone should have a hobby, especially those who work in an office every day and complete the same routine tasks. Do you ever give yourself time to do something enjoyable, a project or activity you might consider to be fun? Many people have a list of projects they would like to complete, and the sentence which usually precedes the list is: If I only had time I would get started. Does that sound familiar?

There has been a lot written about mindfulness and the benefits of meditation. This is based upon the idea of giving yourself time to be alone, away from your daily routine and responsibilities, to help regain a sense of balance and manage stress. But for many people, the idea of...

Do you want to teach your students, or would you like to use the power of teaching to also inspire and uplift your students?

Many people view an educator as someone who is a subject matter expert in their chosen discipline, a gatekeeper to a school's policies, and the one who is charged with providing instruction through the teaching strategies he or she has implemented. As a point of reference: When I use the word "teaching" I am not referring strictly to primary education, rather I am using it as a generic term for instruction, as my perspective is written based upon my work in the field of higher education.

Many institutions value credit hours and scholarly publications as the primary criteria for hiring instructors. Yet having qualifications and publishing articles...

Whenever you fail, try, try again, or so the saying goes. There has been a great deal written about failure within self-development articles, and the need to embrace it, accept it, and learn from it. It seems there has been so much written about it, many people may begin to expect it to occur as a natural part of their career. Authors often frame failure as one of life's greatest lessons, which may be the primary reason why it is such a popular topic now. The idea of having to overcome something challenging seems like a way to rediscover one's self or renew one's sense of determination.

What's interesting about a time in a person's life when something they call failure has been experienced is that this is not a time when he or she will be receptive to looking at it as a period...

When you are actively involved in the classroom and working with your adult students, classroom management and what you need to teach are the order of the day. As the class progresses, you may consider the perspective of your students; along with what motivates them, how they persist when faced with challenges, and what it is like for them to interact with the classroom environment. But have you ever considered how your students view you as an educator? Does it matter to you or influence how you teach when you are planning your class or considering future professional development?

Most educators choose this type of work or career, even when the pay or working conditions are less than ideal. What if you decide to function from this point forward in a manner that is transformative...