I feel that having students work toward their goals in the classroom through mastery of the content is an awarding experience that can help build confidence within the students.

I believe making life connections to the material is very important. As an instructor, I think it is important to have an understanding of the student's learned experiences because it allows for the students to connect to the material on a more personal level.

I learned that student involvement in the designing of the course vision is a great way to have students feel connected and involved within the classroom. It is very important to have safe places where students can feel themselves and have understanding of how their vision meshes with the vision of not only the school but the instructor. It is important to understand that the students and me are a team, and I am here to help them reach their full potential inside and outside the classroom.

I was able to learn that students need to ownership of their of educational experience to feel empowered for success. I find it intriguing that approximately 42% of students starting post-secondary programs do not finish because they do not assume responsibility for themselves and their future career success. Therefore, it is essential as an instructor to have students feel connected to the material so that they can find their internal motivation to be successful.