i just got back from aect. it was in anaheim this year, and i was only there for 3 days. as i was getting ready to go to the conference i found myself feeling a distinct lack of inspiration as a phd student. i was feeling unfocused, and – more particularly – i was feeling the weight of all that i have to do to finish this degree here in utah. i was feeling decidedly uninspired by it all and seriously contemplating quitting and heading back home to oregon to find something to do. so, needless to say, this conference was coming at a perfect time.

i’m not going to go through day by day my experiences, but i did hear a lot of really good things, really interesting things. i got to talk a bit about the work i’m doing and hear of another resource i do need to investigate for my reciprocal mentoring project.

the last presentation i went to at the conference was one about technology integration with k-12 teachers. i went to the presentation for 2 reasons – work, and the presenter is a good friend of my chair so i wanted to see what her work was about. i went into the presentation excited to see her, interested in what she was doing, but also knowing that i had my laptop with me and that i could check email if i got bored. well, boredom never occurred because she busted the walls of the usual presentation – no talking head. she had us in groups working. in 1 hour she presented her stuff, had us brainstorm about technology and constructivism, had the groups evaluate other groups ideas, and then put together a lesson plan that incorporated her ideas. it was stunning, and i felt energized afterwards.

later i got to talk to a couple of her former students about her presentation. they told me that this is how she is in class all the time. and it lead me to realize why my favourite professor (mfp) of all times is mfp. it isn’t because of the content they teach, it is because they are inspiring. mfp  is excited about the work he is doing and teaching, and that excitement gets translated into his teaching. he gets the students excited simply because he is so excited about it. and that is what this presenter did – got us excited. she was inspiring. she motivated. she gave me just what i am so desperately seeking from my two professors this semester – inspiration.

so, of course it leads me to reflect on what an inspiring teacher is – how is it that they are so inspiring? is one professor inspiring for one set of students and not another? how do we determine that, and is it an important trait to look for as departments seek out new professors to hire? just as people explore creativity in instructional design, should there be discussions about inspiration of teaching future instructional designers and future academics? and lastly – the self reflection – if i hope for it from professors, when i am in their place, can i be it for students who are in my place right now, and how?

or is inspiration just an added bonus to the work?  should students be forced to sit and listen to decidedly uninspiring teachers day after day and just tough it out?  is uninspired teaching just par for the course, and at the phd level, one more thing we have to toughen out as a part of getting the degree?  or should we expect more from our teachers, our professors?  should we expect them to inspire, to be excited and to figure out how to translate that excitement into the classroom?

i don’t know the answers to any of the questions i pose, though i do have opinions.  my opinion is that teachers / professors should try to inspire, that they should be excited about what they are teaching, that working with students in any teaching and learning environment should be something they look forward too – not something they have to do.  if working with students, if teaching, is not of interest to someone they should simply find a research center to work for.  that is my opinion.  but, on the other side of it, people are different – what might inspire one person isn’t going to inspire another person.  me – i’m drawn to and inspired by someone who is charismatic, yet caring.  others may be inspired by the quiet person.  and, inspiration doesn’t occur everyday, yes, we are all terribly human, and i can understand someone having a bad day, or even a bad semester.

so, yeah.  this inspiration thing was the biggest thing that came from my aect experience.  not just from professors, but also seeking out inspiration in my own work, on my own.  and i am.  i’m excited for next semester and the possibilities that await.