Establishing Authority
Hi
At my university, it is mandatory for the instructors to post their biography. I am lucky because I have 20 years’ experience in aerospace engineering and program management besides my years in academics as well. I am lucky in the sense that I have achieved a lot during my career. Normally I am a very private person who does not like to have my credentials made public. However, it has made a big difference for me when establishing my role as content expert and authority in the classroom. It helps add to the respect that an instructor needs to establish early at the beginning of the term.
Have you considered doing the same? How else do you all go about establishing your role?
Bill
William,
Credentials certainly help to establish your expertise in the course. Your confidence and demeaner in the class (even an online course) help to establish your role and credibility in the course. Your ability to give constructive and relevant feedback, and ability to answer student questions contributes as well.
Herbert Brown III
Hi Bill,
I also have many years of both experience and academia. I list all of that for authority purposes, but then I add in a few fun items to also project myself as a human being. For example, I encourage them to view my photography on my website.
Morissa
I highlight my past experiences and especially those that would pertain to the course. I have significant experience in marketing and strategic planning and those are the courses I generally teach. I can cite specific examples of my experience and how it relates to certain aspects of the course.
Al,
What about your general "presence" in the course, does that help to establish any authority for you as the instructor? How?
Herbert Brown III
