Michael Schmitt

I teach in the healthcare arena. While there are certainly standard, typical pieces of information that must be imparted to my students, my area of expertise is ever-changing. So, it is crucial that the content for my course be more dependent on scholarly articles and recent research, rather than merely depending on a published textbook, no matter how well vetted. In other words, my curriculum must be dynamic and pliable, as changes in the healthcare landscape occur constantly. Relying on only one source of information, e.g., a textbook, would be counterproductive, as the changes in healthcare are constant, often immediate,… >>>

I have found that a very useful way off interacting with students, while at the same time, building a rapport and an environment of trust, is to tap into the expertise of students in my classes. While I am the most expert on our topic, oftentimes I have students who have real-life and work place experiences that help to illuminate key points in the course. So, when I pinpoint subject-matter experts within the student roster, it (a) helps to teach by using anecdotal information, (b) create a defined role of importance for many students, and (c) provides non "SME" students… >>>

I feel strongly that a large part of what I must do as instructor is to prepare my students for the work force. Oftentimes, my students are remiss interacting with classmates, and with me, with the proper amount of respect and professionalism. So, I try to always model proper work place communcation, e.g., more formal interactions. The trick is remaining approachable and jocular while presenting myself as a figure of authority. Almost always, responding to an inappropriate email with the proper style and type of remarks helps to redirect a misguided student. A good example is still the best teaching… >>>

We use "Turnitin" at my institution. I instruct my students to always insert original thougths and ideas into their assignments. Frequently, however, my students have elevated similarity scores. These students email me to assure me that they have not "copied" or "plagiarized." I have to inform my students that an elevated score can occur even if all work has been properly cited and sorted. I let them know that the "Turnitin" score is a ratio of original thoughts and ideas as compared to those properly gleaned from outside sources. I encourage them to "re-think" and "re-word" in order to improve… >>>