I recently read a moving article by Stephen L. Chew, Ph.D. from Samford University, titled: The Indication of a Great Teacher. So much of what he wrote resonated with me because we share a passion for what it means to be a teacher and the impact we can have on our students. 

What makes a...

I was introduced to the concept of “not yet” after listening to a presentation by NASA astrophysicist Dr. Michelle Thaller and one by Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychologist best known for her groundbreaking work in motivation, specifically, the growth mindset. After listening to them one...

There are many common myths floating around about teaching and learning. With the recent expansion in neuroscience and imaging, we now have hard evidence about how the brain learns that we didn't before. However, some beliefs in education continue to be quite popular even when research has shown...

When reviewing a program’s syllabi, I often notice that part of the grading for the course includes attendance and/or participation. It is important to note that neither of these is truly an assessment. Attendance does not evaluate a student’s knowledge or skills. So, why would you...

I don't think I need to say this, but if you have been teaching for any period of time, I know there have been times when you have been frustrated by your students. Teaching is hard. Students can be challenging, a mix that undoubtedly can lead to feeling stressed and impatient. We are human,...

I can't even begin to count how often I have heard this statement or said it myself, "Students don't read." Yet we all know reading is essential for learning and to stay up-to-date medically. The growing concern of students not reading isn't new. Faculty have been noticing this trend for quite...

Recently, I came across an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education that caught my attention and got me thinking. I don't know about you, but over the more recent years, I have found students so focused on needing to get an A, as if it defines them as a student, a person, and a future PA....

One thing that seems to be automatically assumed is that everyone knows how to use PowerPoint effectively. It certainly seems simple enough. But the truth is there are definitely some basic tips and pointers you should know to help you and to help you provide your guest lecturers. I am sure you...

Navigating student complaints can be uncomfortable and challenging at times. Emotions can run high, and it can be stressful. In my experience, the complaints are often due to misunderstandings, miscommunications, or mismatching of expectations. Early in my PA teaching days, I made a comment to a...

In part 1 of this two part series, we looked at the challenges many of us in education are having with trying to help our students learn and study more effectively. The article presented the research about what we know about how students study, those study strategies and approaches that have been...