Knowing your personality
Twenty plus years ago when I started teaching I had a flat affect. I was shy back then and scared to be in front of a crowd. Being a psychiatric nurse I had a standard affect for the different type of behavioral challenges we encounter as well as an affect when standing on the bus stop in a bad part of the city. Fast forward, I secured a full time position as a psychiatric instruct at a community college. They put us through rigorous requirements over 5 years to dig deep into introspection, reflection and getting feedback from peers on your instructional approaches. After securing my Phd I secured a position in a university setting, where another battery of educational opportunities on effective teaching, videotaping lectures for self-evaluations and peer evaluations.
The challeng was I always had a flat affect since a baby. I had to work hard on improving my facial affect which I did. One day I saw myself in the mirrow and scared myself. I said on my this is what people see. Fast forward I am full of smiles now. I share this to say it is important to self reflect, take the critical feedback and adapt. I am now confident and secure and know how to use my affect to effect positive change.
Ora Robinson
