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| Stock photo used with permission. |
Why do I always forget how draining the first week of school can be? This semester is particularly tough as I'm teaching three different courses for the first time (along with my day job), and didn't think through the impact of leading a night class followed by an early morning class. Sleep deprivation lesson learned.
And I know it's not just me. It stands to reason I've got a bunch of introverts in class as well and it got me to thinking about how best to structure classes to accommodate those temperaments, too.
Those who know me socially, and indeed most of my students, don't realize I'm a classic introvert. It doesn't mean I'm shy, rather that I prefer to interact with the world in quieter ways (check out this list: "10 ways introverts interact with the world"). Although I often love social interaction, especially teaching, I find consistent socializing super draining and need time alone to recharge.
In groups, committees and classrooms, I'm hardly ever the first person to speak up. I often hated talking in college classes, and found it really difficult during a lot of grad school. Not for lack of opinions or insights, but because I'm not usually a think out loud kind of person. I like to have time to formulate ideas clearly, usually in writing. And if I don't feel like what I could say is meaningful, then I keep to myself.
So, I've been considering these personal feelings in light of teaching three very different courses, and wondering how can I encourage student participation and not just mean "talking in class" or sharing aloud. Generally, I do this through individual writing exercises, reflection papers, and the like. But I'm trying to balance accommodating learning styles and temperaments with encouraging people to practice new skills (I'm much better now about sharing in groups than I used to be). And I'm also, especially in my Interpersonal Communication course, thinking about how to encourage conversation dominating extroverts to allow space for the contributions of others.
After reading "How to teach a young introvert," which is aimed more at elementary classrooms, but still applicable for a university setting, I'm intrigued by building in more quiet spaces into my lessons and, students-around-the-land-cheer-teachers-don't-yell-at-me, reducing the amount of group activities in the day-to-day.
Any insight from teacher and student friends would be greatly appreciated!
xoxo,
a tired introvert
Other teaching things:
- First day of school rituals
- Stripper turns award-winning college instructor? Hardly. Welcome to my most embarrassing moment in the classroom.
- Communicating with your college professor: 13 Dos and Don'ts
- Back in the teaching saddle and loving it!
- Grading Nazi/kindergarten teacher/saint: Processing student evaluations
- The loves and hates of teaching
- Reading about spiritual practices: Sometimes grading can be fun
- Grades are not Halloween candy
Shawna
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! It helped me navigate the last few months of dissertation madness last year. I am an Assistant Professor, in my early 30s, and am SUPER introverted. I find I have to stagger classes when possible as I was, like you, teaching classes until 10 at night then turning around and teaching an 8AM. NOT a smart idea as an introvert.
I also find I try to put the focus back on the students whenever possible. I teach classes that are 4 hours long and without student discussions, guided argumentation, reflective writing in class, etc., I would be too overwhelmed. The only time I get truly exhausted is after I'm lecturing for an hour or so without much student discussion.
It is very hard being a young female introvert in academia. We are prized for our expert opinions and yet I over analyze every thought that comes out of my mouth during a meeting that I cease up sometimes. I have gotten better sharing ideas but it is still never easy in a group setting.
Oh I'm so glad you found some of the nerd work articles helpful! Congrats on finishing up!!
DeleteI completely agree about the need to build in activities/discussion/writing, pedagogically and for sanity. I can't quite wrap my mind around a 4-hour course though! Undergrad or grad? Wowza!
I'm with you on meetings and the difficulties of being introverted in academia. I hope the paradigm will shift, but in the mean time, I'm practicing thinking out loud. (It doesn't help that I turn beet red sometimes during these attempts at practice. Goodness.)