Well the first week has come and gone. I have to admit that I was a little nervous as I sat in on COM 235 – Sports Marketing and Promotions and SRM 291 - Recreation and Sports Program Administration. I had been a substitute school teacher (K-12) in the mid 1990’s but I had never taught at the college level. I wasn’t really sure what to do or say. The first class, for about 30 minutes I sat there like a bump on the log.
Finally, I just start talking to the students and mingling and as I did my nervousness went away. This is an opportunity for me to learn and teach at the same time. During the course of my online classes, I met people from all different backgrounds, skills and experiences, some of which I had not been exposed to. I realize that the seated classes present me with the same opportunities.
By the same token, I can imagine that a majority of the students have not met someone like me. In addition to my 25 years of sports information, I’ve also worked as a softball umpire, a coach and teacher among other things. I have certain skills such people skills and a passion that could benefit these students. As I see it the goals of this mentorship is for me to learn new skills and impart my experience, wisdom and knowledge to my students.
In the SRM 291 class, we spent one day getting in groups and discussing their plan of attack on a grant proposal. I offered my advice on various issues to each group such as how to divide things up, being proactive in their assignments and forms of communication within the group among others. You are never sure if people actually listen to you or appreciate what you do. Earlier today, I had one of the students in the class thank me for a piece of advice I gave him about an area to focus on. That made me feel pretty good.
Finally, I just start talking to the students and mingling and as I did my nervousness went away. This is an opportunity for me to learn and teach at the same time. During the course of my online classes, I met people from all different backgrounds, skills and experiences, some of which I had not been exposed to. I realize that the seated classes present me with the same opportunities.
By the same token, I can imagine that a majority of the students have not met someone like me. In addition to my 25 years of sports information, I’ve also worked as a softball umpire, a coach and teacher among other things. I have certain skills such people skills and a passion that could benefit these students. As I see it the goals of this mentorship is for me to learn new skills and impart my experience, wisdom and knowledge to my students.
In the SRM 291 class, we spent one day getting in groups and discussing their plan of attack on a grant proposal. I offered my advice on various issues to each group such as how to divide things up, being proactive in their assignments and forms of communication within the group among others. You are never sure if people actually listen to you or appreciate what you do. Earlier today, I had one of the students in the class thank me for a piece of advice I gave him about an area to focus on. That made me feel pretty good.