Last week, I was awarded our departmental teaching award which was such a joy to win. (Especially since this one actually came with a physical glass award that looks like a TV award!) Research grants are obviously great to win, but teaching awards always feel more valuable and personal, especially since they are based on student nominations. I also said goodbye to many of my favorite students who graduated last week and will be moving on to the next exciting chapter in their lives.
This semester was challenging as it was the first time I taught synchronous classes online but I enjoyed the online format so much more than I expected. I had a lot of fun experimenting with different technologies, making videos, and engaging students with online assignments. I also learned a lot about myself as a teacher, and am learning how to teach in a way that better reflects my values. I will be writing some posts this summer to share what I learned from other faculty members, pedagogy workshops, and online teaching resources, and making the case for teaching with kindness and integrating self-care into teaching.