This question, “where you would like to be in the next five
years as an instructor” has been knocking at my brain for the last few years. You
may call it as my mid-life crisis or my increased sensitivity towards my
purpose of life. What really, I want to be in next 5 years and where?
Of course, my heart takes me to the classroom whether it is
a real brick and mortar classroom or a virtual classroom during this new Covid19
pandemic era; I have always seen myself well placed as an instructor. I have a lot
of diversity in my trainings when it comes to the subject matter expertise. I
was originally trained to teach in a University while continuing my Ph.D. in Life
Sciences or more specifically in Medical Sciences as a Biophysicist and then
after my Ph.D. as a Reproductive Physiologist. But after immigrating to Canada,
my professional field changed to human and social services. Though, I always longed
for University teaching but I naturally settled as community-based researcher
and educator, workshop facilitator and adult educator, life coach and
employment counselor. I guess, it was my transferable skills as an instructor
and a keen researcher which evolved me who I am today.
In the last 15 years, though I have accepted various
employment opportunities as they came along my way and I have enjoyed doing all
my jobs from the core of my heart, but I never gave up my quest to work as an instructor and that is still my lifelong goal. That’s why I felt encouraged to
start this PIDP diploma from VCC after meeting with the Head of Upgrading Department
at University of the Fraser Valley, when he said, “we had a position to hire you
as Biology instructor if you had PIDP diploma” and right after the meeting I enrolled
for my PIDP course 5 years ago. Despite of the fact that I had lots of bumps in
my personal life and couldn’t complete my diploma sooner, but currently I am
almost there to finish it in 2020.
My three professional goals which would bring me closer to
my long-term vision to work as an instructor in any Canadian University are:
1. To complete my PIDP Diploma in 2020
2. Remain focused on my professional
development and personal growth by remaining current through active networking
with the post - secondary instructor community in BC, students and
changing trends in teaching methodology with time and ultimately meet my career
aspirations which entails towards achieving qualified Instructor status. I
network with them continuously through online networking sites such as
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and through emails.
3. As I move towards my long-term goal, I am aware that the
education industry is a very competitive market, especially the University
teachings which is almost gearing towards 100% online status during this
Covid19 era, so I plan on using the next five years to polish my teaching skill
set learning all different online handles such as Moodle, blackboard, web-based
e-teaching and e-learning, converting my teaching instructions in the form of
video lectures and I will also focus on experiential learning from experienced
teachers, and make a positive contribution to the universities and to the
students.
(Photo taken from weblink google.ca/images)
I see my teaching career as an
ongoing cycle of learning and professional growth, and although I tend to dream
big, I am aware that I need to approach career goals one step at the time.
Right now, my goals entail gaining classroom experience and working for a post-secondary
institution or a reputed college where I can build a successful career in
education. I am a keen learner and a researcher and I will never stop
researching newest ways of teaching and learning for the benefits of the students
(I am student-centric) and my own professional growth as an instructor. I am
very sure, completion of my PIDP diploma will add another feather in my cap and significantly
enhance my employability to work as a University Instructor!
I am open to suggestions and your
positive constructive feedback which may be helpful for me to achieve my
long-term goal.
Kindly
Kusum Soni
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