Dr. J's Blog

Do you understand what critical thinking means? Is there an indicator when thinking becomes or transforms into critical thinking?

The phrase "critical thinking" has become widely used in this field and it is a skill which students are told they must learn. The challenge is that this phrase can have multiple descriptions when educators are asked to define it. The descriptions provided by students are even more varied and often described using clichés such as "thinking outside of the box", or they can come closer to what this concept means when they relate it to problem-solving.

This poses a challenge for the inclusion of critical thinking in a list of skills students need to learn because there isn't a clear standard regarding how best to teach it, along with an...

What are your goals as an educator, teacher, and mentor to your students? Do you have a clearly defined mission statement now, one which guides your day and the plans you establish for your week?

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...

What's more important for your long-term career goals? Do you want to find a job and accept whatever comes along, or do you want to keep yourself focused on the big picture, search for a better job, and work towards building a successful career?

There is no question the job market is challenging, no matter what point in time it is as many industries are struggling to sustain employees and grow their businesses. Those of us who work in higher education, especially the field of distance learning, have watched this industry change dramatically over the past few years. And every month it seems you can read about another business or industry making layoffs, leaving many valued employees searching for new positions. I have seen this too as a resume writer, having written...

Do you ever feel like you want to give up on a student, especially when a student seems to give up or no longer cares about his or her progress in class?

As an educator, I care about my students – all of them. Even the online students who challenge me and occasionally cause me to walk away from my laptop for a short break. I believe it originate from my belief in the potential that every student has an ability to learn, even if students do not learn at the same pace or comprehend the course topics in the same manner. Most of the classes I have taught were online, and I have enjoyed teaching in a virtual learning environment – even though it was challenging at first when I could not see the students like I could when I was teaching in a traditional classroom. Over time...