One of my friends asked me if getting my doctorate was worth it. I immediately began to talk about how I am not certain that the financial gains in the salary schedule will eventually cover for the cost of the degree. However, he stopped me and said something along the lines of, "I mean for your teaching. Do you feel that the time, cost, and energy you invested in getting a doctorate has improved your teaching?"
The question stopped me in my tracks, and I'm honestly not certain what my actual response was because my mind has been replaying so often since that I can't quite remember what I said and what I have thought. I do feel that I am a better teacher than I was before. I certainly have a stronger understanding of the process behind educational research as well as the adoption of educational technology. Although I know a bit more about what works well and what doesn't in various educational scenarios, I am acutely aware of just how little we still understand about the educational process, especially concerning how brains sort and store information and learn skills. However, I'm not quite certain how much this process of earning my doctorate has translated into improving my teaching.
I think the answer is, "Yes. It was worth it." While I might not have a specific concrete piece of evidence to point to as support, I feel that my increased understanding of why I do what I do (or why I want to do what I want to do) has increased my confidence in my teaching practices while also providing me clear areas where I would like to improve. I especially think that my focus on educational technology made it easier for me to deal with the technological demands that the current pandemic brought on us. I also believe that my knowledge will help me continue to adjust and adapt as new ideas and innovations continue to advance the field of education.
I do wish that my answer could have been more immediate. That I have needed time to think this through indicates that I am not quite certain about the value of this achievement that required so much of my time, funds, and energy over these past five years. Still, I suppose that it was worth it if it helps even one more of my students than if I hadn't done it.
The question stopped me in my tracks, and I'm honestly not certain what my actual response was because my mind has been replaying so often since that I can't quite remember what I said and what I have thought. I do feel that I am a better teacher than I was before. I certainly have a stronger understanding of the process behind educational research as well as the adoption of educational technology. Although I know a bit more about what works well and what doesn't in various educational scenarios, I am acutely aware of just how little we still understand about the educational process, especially concerning how brains sort and store information and learn skills. However, I'm not quite certain how much this process of earning my doctorate has translated into improving my teaching.
I think the answer is, "Yes. It was worth it." While I might not have a specific concrete piece of evidence to point to as support, I feel that my increased understanding of why I do what I do (or why I want to do what I want to do) has increased my confidence in my teaching practices while also providing me clear areas where I would like to improve. I especially think that my focus on educational technology made it easier for me to deal with the technological demands that the current pandemic brought on us. I also believe that my knowledge will help me continue to adjust and adapt as new ideas and innovations continue to advance the field of education.
I do wish that my answer could have been more immediate. That I have needed time to think this through indicates that I am not quite certain about the value of this achievement that required so much of my time, funds, and energy over these past five years. Still, I suppose that it was worth it if it helps even one more of my students than if I hadn't done it.
RSS Feed
