My journey from teaching to learning excellence

The most enjoyable part of my career has been teaching and working with future veterinarians. I have never forgotten what it is like to be a student, and I believe that being a lifelong learner myself helps me to be a better instructor. I no longer try to cover everything, instead focusing on major concepts; I believe that less is more. Our graduates are expected to be problem solvers and critical thinkers throughout their professional careers, whether they pursue careers in clinical practice, research, industry, or academia. In order to help my students develop these skills, I have moved from simply providing factual information to emphasizing application of knowledge. Instead of thinking only about teaching excellence, I consider myself a facilitator of learning excellence and believe that students must play an active role in their educational experience. To help increase student participation and interest, I use active learning techniques to get them involved. While I have apparently been a successful instructor, I am constantly reflecting on teaching and thinking about things I can do to improve. Not only does this benefit my students, it also helps me maintain my own enthusiasm and professional development. © 2006 AAVMC.