Comparison to Terra’s Professional Community

Terra,

I have a natural affinity to the presentation that you have created for your professional community. Obviously, the similarities begin with our passion for adult education particularly health education, and our determination to enhance vocational outcome-based education to reflect the needs of an evolving health care system and prepare learners for the future.

Our professional communities are both concerned with responding to the needs of our patients not only for treatment but, preventatively through health promotion and prevention. Challenging the status quo and our current beliefs about teaching and learning sets the stage for innovative instruction. Engaging our colleagues in collaborative inquiry will identify issues in curriculum and establish program vision and education philosophy. Dental Programs are part of the allied health cluster; therefore, both professional communities are interconnected and share common interests. CAAHP and your program community are both concerned with preparing high quality health care professionals that respond challenges facing our health care system.

I think one difference in our professional communities is that CAAHP is involved from more of a macro level with a boarder academic school perspective compared to your community, which is program specific. As an administrator, I am committed to supporting educators as they work collaboratively on instructional design projects. I try to be actively involved with the working team and support all activities related to curriculum planning. My job is to support faculty in providing rich learning experiences for our students. Another difference would be the level of interaction amongst our communities. I think communication among members of CAAHP will be sporadic compared to your group.

Your professional community focuses on the specifics of assessment and your presentation prompts dialogue related to assessment that enhances learning. As the associate dean, it is my job to listen to student feedback and engage program faculty in analysis and critical reflection. Keeping the lines of communication open with faculty is extremely important in supporting integrated planning, instruction and assessment so that we can continually improve and keep up with the changing needs of our students and prepare them for the health care system of our future.

I like the way you presented the information and interjected thought provoking questions that will intrigue your colleagues and prompt ongoing dialogue. This approach fosters collaboration and team building while placing students at the center of our focus.

Great presentation!

Eva