A Journey of Appreciation for Care-Based Pedagogy

Abstract

This reflective essay recounts my experience in Humber Polytechnic’s Teaching Excellence Program and my transition within the post-secondary education system from student success services into my current full-time teaching role. Through an exploration of an artifact—a hand-drawn picture of a bumblebee—I reflect on what I learned during my time spent working in student success services and its significance to my current teaching practice. Through my time working in student success services, I gained an appreciation for the many challenges students may experience during their time spent in post-secondary education. My professional background has emphasized relational practice and holistic supports. My chosen artifact symbolizes convocation. Within the post-secondary system, we all have a role to play in supporting students to successfully complete their studies while maintaining their well-being. Through embracing pedagogy grounded in care, I can do my part as a professor to support students’ persistence through to graduation.

Note:

This article is part of a series derived from Humber Polytechnic's Teaching Excellence Program (TEP). Recent graduates of the program were invited to select and submit work from their time in the program to JIPE. These reflective works offer an engaging glimpse into faculty perspectives, their approaches to teaching and learning, and their experiences as educators.