The Points of My Compass
I recently moderated a panel on Technology in Education at the Minnesota High Tech Association Spring Conference. The common thread, interestingly, was about access to education. It got me thinking about my own teaching philosophy, and in a sense, why I continue to do what I do.It's good practice for me to occasionally locate myself as I travel through life and make sure I'm on a good heading. Here's where the points of my compass come from:
- North - Education is the doorway to opportunity: Dad is my touchstone for this. As a boy who grew up on a rice paddy field in China, education, provided by the Maryknoll fathers, enabled him to end up a NASA research scientist with a couple of patents under his belt. He instilled in me the importance of investing in education and endless stories about how hard work is what is needed to get ahead.
- South - Women's access to education has been long in coming: Mom is my touchstone for this reality. Even though the university Mom went to had engineering, she knew that there was no way she could become one. Why? Well, in Hong Kong, they have annual testing of students to determine their rank in several subjects. The top ranking student in mathematics, physics, and chemistry one year was a woman who applied to the engineering school. Despite her qualifications, her application was declined. Mom said the message was clear: Women could not become engineers. In a way, becoming an engineer was our little family triumph over injustice, but with women making up only 10% of practicing engineers, there is still a way to go.
- West - Everyone develops on a different schedule: My husband is my current touchstone for this. Like many others, mathematics did not come easy for him, so he enrolled himself in remedial math when he was in college. With success and understanding, he built confidence and improved his grades with each level of mathematics. If the college he attended did not permit him to start where he was comfortable, he never could have become an engineer or eventually own his own engineering company. I remember him every time I meet with a student who is struggling but who has drive. Despite the fragility of the human ego, it also flourishes with just a little bit of nourishment.
- East - Sometimes people need a hand to believe they can do it: My teenage angst is my touchstone. When I was a teenager, I was convinced that my artificial leg meant I couldn't do anything in gym class. I don't know why; When I was in 2nd grade, I could run faster than a lot of other kids. But, as a teen, I was pretty sure that those days of athleticism were over. I explained, very logically to the gym teacher why it would be foolish for me to jump over the pommel horse. I explained that since I would jump in an asymmetric manner, I would not be able to mount the horse, let alone pull my legs up to clear the horse. My instructor blankly replied, "Run and jump." Fine, I thought, I will slam my face into the horse and then she'll know I know my physics. As I raced towards the horse and hit the springboard, I saw the horse flying towards my face, just as I had predicted. But then, there was something on my butt, pushing me over. It wasn't graceful, but I cleared the horse and somehow didn't die. That experience changed something in me. Even though I didn't do it myself, I had seen what success could look like. It was a good feeling, to have a chance at success rather than continually have to explain not even trying. When I teach, I remember that sometimes students need a little hand-up to build their confidence so that they have the inner strength to take on the challenges ahead.
- Center - Develop all abilities so that many options are open: My sister is my touchstone for this. Throughout her life, she has developed her mathematical and science abilities as well as her literary and artistic skills. I have always been amazed how she has been able to do so many things: As a child, she ran a fix-it service for our home, running "advertisements" in the home newspaper she wrote, designed, and distributed. In high school, she wrote poetry and plays which were published and produced, and in college, she made miniature food and then sold them on a website she created. When my engineering and computer science students complain about their liberal arts core requirements, I realize I need to help them discover how these other abilities allow them to do amazing things.
St. Catherine University continues the Catholic tradition of providing access to all students. Working with the STEM program, I help not only the women that do discover and engineering and computer science is for them (and help them navigate our dual degree and ACTC programs), but also help teachers develop the engineer inside each child. Personally, I continue to be grounded and enlightened by my fellow faculty who value the balance that the liberal arts tradition provides.
I guess I'll hold this heading for a while more.
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