Keilani Middleton

Being perfect or the ability to be perfect and not make mistakes is not possible. Perfection is a myth, although we would like to think it may exist. I thought perfection was a thing until I discovered mistakes were my way to being better and honing my skills as an instructor or teacher. I relieved myself of so much pressure and stress. I am human and I deserve the grace I give others to be human as well. Its okay to ask for help, and to work with the class to find the answers we do not know as a… >>>

Managing an angry disgruntled student is challenging, especially when they have no intentions of wanting or finding a solution. It can be disruptive to class. With the support of the director of the program, I was able to find a solution that was eventually accepted by the individual. 

Minute papers is a good idea to assist students with understanding learning material. After, they could discuss their ideas in groups or we can do a mind map together to go over the outcome. 

Engaging students takes a variety of tools and strategies to ensure their success. Learning from peers and allowing the students to be apart of their learning process can help with the over all outcome. One example is small group discussions after an assignment. Students can interact and glean from one another as well as learn how to communicate their thoughts and ideas in a safe place. 

Classroom management is still a factor in an online course because there are different types of students who may being challenges. Understanding how to handle this type of conflict or misunderstanding is important because it is hard to convey tone and other communication inferences when we are not face-to-face. 

Keeping the students engaged is imperative in an online class. This can be achieved through discussions and interactive activities. Understanding how to use synchronous and asynchronous meetings helps greatly. 

When I add my personal experiences I can give student MAs examples of what it is like in the field and make our interactions relatable and interactive. 

When I familiarize myself with the information and how to navigate through the CMS, then it will prepare me to be knowledgeable and prepared to assist the students during their learning journey. Communication through discussion platforms, email, and other forms in an online platform is important because this is how we interact with each other. 

I have facilitated a Mock Clinic that students seem to enjoy. I encourage improvisation and allowed one individual to be a difficult patient while experiencing an emergency. The students had to navigate how to navigate these situations while others kept the clinic flowing conducting patient care without missing a beat. This activity is one of the most requested in this group of students. I enjoy seeing them hone their skills in patient intake and finding confidence in applying the skills learned in class and lab. 

It is beneficial for the students and I to navigate through the various ways to understand, teach, and learn the material collectively. I understand no one method will work for everyone, but trying a different approach will allow for students to stay curious enough to learn and become confident MAs or with any subject.