Feb
1
Written by:
host
2/1/2012 3:00 PM
Fall 2011 was my first semester at Heritage University, and it was truly a blessed one! I absolutely love being here, teaching here, and serving here. As with all new institutions, there are adjustments faculty need to make in order to improve teaching and learning for the students. For me, one of the adjustments was cultural. I repeatedly invited students to come to my office hours for help in my general and organic chemistry courses. Even after the first two exams where most of the class truly struggled, I still saw one student here and there attending office hours, but none consistently (and some not at all!) I was becoming very concerned as to the character and work ethic of my students.
Then one day, Prof. Winona Wynn and I had a great conversation about the situation, as some of the students she advised were struggling in my class. She made me aware of the cultural and social habits of many of the students at Heritage. For example, she observed that the learning environment, even for something like office hours, matters for many Native American students. I also observed that many students hang around the Academic Skills Center (ASC) for social interaction as well as help. It then dawned on me that moving my office hours from my office in the Arts and Sciences Building to the Harry Kent Center on Mondays and ASC on Wednesdays might impact office hour attendance and participation.
It worked! I saw between 2-6 students each office hour consistently from late October when I made the switch until the end of the semester. While the relative impact of the office hour varied by student, at least it gave me a better look at where students were at on homework problems. Moving the office hour location also gave me the chance to get out of my office and see other parts of campus I don't normally see, including where to find students in any part of the day. Finally, it strengthened my commitment to teaching in the eyes of my students as I showed my willingness to engage them on their terms and in their environment. I now hold all my office hours at the Harry Kent Center and ASC as a matter of practice, looking forward to coming to my students in their element each time.
Cheers!
Tyson Miller, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
3 comment(s) so far...
Re: I Took My Office Hours to the Students, and I'm Glad I Did
Dear Tyson:
This blog is a tribute to your commitment to student learning and to the good ideas we as faculty have to share with each other! (Thanks, Winona!) During the years that I was director of the Academic Skills Center, I truly appreciated the faculty members who made time to tutor in the ASC.
Pam Root is another faculty member who volunteers in the ASC to help students. I salute you all! Mary
By Mary James on
2/1/2012 8:49 PM
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Re: I Took My Office Hours to the Students, and I'm Glad I Did
Great idea Tyson! Some classes I teach are at the other sites. Due to the distance, this past semester I met a student on Skype several times. (He lives in George and attended Moses Lake.) The student did not have internet access, but did have a smart phone. Being able to show someone something as well as discussing helped.
By Anne on
2/2/2012 1:38 PM
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Re: I Took My Office Hours to the Students, and I'm Glad I Did
Thanks for sharing this learning! I love our new building, but I miss the "old days" in our portable when a student could walk right up to my office door without the formality of glass walls and office reception.
Perhaps I'll try office hours at another location, too. I didn't think I had much to offer in terms of tradition tutoring in writing or math, but I suppose help with Social Work content could be useful as well. That might also be a great program recruitment tool!
By Corey Hodge on
2/2/2012 1:38 PM
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