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June 20, 2006

Your Most Important Teaching Moment

Last week, Barney posted this comment here on the eSight Networking Forum:

“I believe in the course of life we are all students and teachers. When we are not teaching we are students, and when we are teaching (if we are good at teaching) we are learning from our students.

”Life is an eternal classroom with so many opportunities that we simply have to decide which ones are ours.”

Well said, Barney. Probably one of your most critical “teaching” moments happens when you’re interviewing for a job.

Look at the skills sets from my book,
"10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College."

Select one skill about which you can comfortably say to a prospective employer, “I’m good at that.” Chances are that it’s also your strongest skill.

Then post your reply to this question:

What’s the best way to show potential employers you can use your strongest skill for their benefit?

In posting your reply, you’re taking the first step in preparing for one of your most important “teaching moments” -- and you’ll have done some of your homework for your next job interview.

Thanks.
Bill Coplin
Director, Public Affairs Program
Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

For more information about the Syracuse program, see:
genuinedogooder.com
Public Affairs 101 course
Public Affairs Program web site
Community Link Program

Author:
”10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College”
“How You Can Help: An Easy Guide to Doing Good Deeds in Your Everyday Life”

(Also see Bill Coplin’s biography.)


Add your comments to this posting

Posted by Bill Coplin at June 20, 2006 12:26 PM

Comments

I can comfortably say I write well but I also apply and evaluate the knowledge I've gathered in hopes of 'teaching' others while they teach someone else.

Essentially that's why I am journalist , a sometimes poet, a story teller. I use the information I've gathered to share with others whether they're in a board room, a classroom or on the internet or in a newspaper or magazine. To me good writing finds the essential truths no matter what you write about and then you tell people the facts that helped you come to your conclusion and it's their choice whether or not they come to the same interpretation you do. So I guess there's also BS detector in there as well. Writing to me is education in the highest sense.

Posted by: Liz S at June 21, 2006 05:26 PM

The fact that one has a particular disabling condition does not make that
person an expert on the subject.

It should, be remembered, bad teaching is worse than no teaching.

C. Fred Stout

San Antonio, Texas

Posted by: C.F. Stout at June 22, 2006 11:42 AM

I'm sorry Sir I don't understand your comment, was it directed to me or to Bill? Liz

Posted by: Liz S at June 22, 2006 09:31 PM

I think one of my best teaching moments came when I first moved into this apartment. My roommate and I are the only two visually-impaired residents in Center for Independent Futures. I am totally blind, having only light perception. My roommate used to have a pretty good amount of remaining vision, but he is starting to lose a lot of it. I have had to show people how to guide me, as well as a few other things. I have let people see my audio-described videos.

Posted by: Jake at June 25, 2006 02:30 PM

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