 | Faculty Manager, Faculty Training and Development
Jessica has been working in higher education for over 10 years and been part of the GCU community for almost 5 years. Her time with GCU has been with the Faculty Training and Development department where she is a Faculty Manager. She has been a Team Lead, Lead of the Mentorship program and a Lead over the Peer Support Reviews (PSRs). She enjoys being able to work with instructors from the onboarding process of initial training and throughout their career assisting with providing support and guidance. Jessica has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration – Marketing, Masters of Business, and is currently working on her Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology with an emphasis on Industrial and Organization Psychology. In addition to her full-time position for GCU, she is also an adjunct instructor for business and humanity courses. |
3 Comments
Dear Trollinger and Sugata and Faculty Manager Jessica Blair:
What a great presentation! Jessica and all, a discussion question over the religious ethics of organ donation or organ sales like I teach in ENG-106 is intimidating! (However, after 15 times through it or more, it is easier.) Yes, I ask and listen to the students' opinion and a CAT is great. Then, I share my personal and professional experience when relevant but reassure them that I value and listen to their opinion. Also, I focus on the academic, research and peer-reviewed tools that they need to learn and I avoid taking sides or getting drawn into any religious debate of any kind. (The same goes for being careful about politics, such as taking sides over a presidential candidate in a national election.)
One way I do this, is by teaching them to read and by quoting world history and world literature examples and by focusing on helping them find the source they are intrigued by. I do not avoid either politics or religion, but I practice the skills of an excellent communicator and listener and work on taking them to the next level of Bloom's taxonomy and on teaching them how to present a more professional and logical argument in the definition, cause and effect and solution argument genres. You are studying IOP on your doctorate, Jessica? Terrific and fascinating! Good night to all three of you! Blessings and Lopes up! : )
Instructor Rachel Givan, Syu Ra chi
Rachel, thank you so much for sharing all of the great ways you engage with your students! It sounds like you have a true understanding of how to manage your class and I bet the students really appreciate you! Yes, I am studying IOP (but did take a little break after my last child - I need to get back on it!).
Not being afraid of addressing politics or religion demonstrates your confidence - keep up the excellent work!
~Jessica R. Blair
Dear Mrs. Jessica Blair and Mr. Joshua Sugata:
Jessica, women usually do need a break to parent sometimes and so do fathers. I learned the basics of teaching in the delight of homeschooling my daughter until the age of 12 when she leaped ahead into an accredited online Florida high school that was a new pilot program at that time. Going back through all the subjects and basics with her, and my experience with her Girl Scout troop as a co-captain and assisting her with the Bible memorization of verses for the Awana Club were all very special to me. 😊
Staying a neutral moderator is something I attempt to achieve. I have to work on patience sometimes, particularly when I see bullying which I choose to deal with immediately and which I definitely detest. I may tolerate someone being a woodpecker and pecking on me to some extent with patience and humor, but if you peck on my students, you better run and climb to the top of the nearest pine tree as at that point I act like the mad mother bear!
Sugata and Jessica, I really do enjoy these episodes as it brings out the human side of teaching and gives instructors and facilitators a chance to enjoy life a little more and laugh or smile. Blessings and Lopes up!😊
Rachel, Syu Ra chi
Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2019 4:44:30 PM
To: Rachel Givan
Subject: New Comment: Season II - Episode 14: Reengaging Absentee Students featuring Jessica Blair
Jessica Blair commented on
Joshua Sugata's post
Rachel, thank you so much for sharing all of the great ways you engage with your students! It sounds like you have a true understanding of how to manage your class and I bet the students really appreciate you! Yes, I am studying IOP (but did take a little break after my last child - I need to get back on it!).
Not being afraid of addressing politics or religion demonstrates your confidence - keep up the excellent work!
~Jessica R. Blair
Joshua Sugata posted in
Blog in Teaching Tips
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