Teaching psychology.
Well, hello.
Since I have been freaking out most of the time since day 1 of Semester 2 until this very minute, I might as well blog a little bit - changing the procrastination to something slightly more productive (although I know I have other better things to do, aside from reading journals).
I suddenly realized how crucial the role of a lecturer is, especially in teaching and presenting the subjects in relation to psychology. Probably I came a little bit too slow in realizing the reasons why.
The crucial factors - are being flexible as well as open minded. I noticed how the lecturers I had came across with (both undergraduate and postgraduate level) had similar mindsets in teaching the art of psychology. They are always trying to get in touch with our inner sides - philosophically, interests and humanity. They are promoting us ways of critically thinking the political issues surrounding psychology theories and studies.
Nonetheless, they are teaching - starting from their own perspective and point of view towards a particular topic of discussion. This is something that I find extremely crucial and delicate to handle and pass on, because they are potentially teaching and sculpting new generations of researchers. They wanted us to see things not just in a particular way (be it in feminists, social constructionists, realists, relativists, anthropologists, etc), but to encourage these vantages in hopes to inspire new psychologists. In other words, these lecturers are providing us the various conventional lenses to look into the topics discussed inside and outside the classroom context.
I suppose some researchers and psychologists (and yes, including myself) are obsessed in viewing a certain topic of interest just in that one lens they have - and use (and also, for most of them still using) that perspective for decades in their are of expertise. Although some lecturers (who happens to publish their own journals and books pretty much over here) revealed how their grounds have changed after rethinking a particular "belief" in psychology/ humans they had for decades. Well, things just always change doesn't it? I guess what is needed is to be informed that "there will be change", but whether or not it will affect my stand and thoughts - is something to consider when the time comes.
Then again, what if we stumble across some lecturers who are pretty stuck up with "their way" in psychology? Well, this was actually how I realized teachers' roles are such crucial peoples in our lives. I happen to came across a particular lecturer this semester who seemed to be flexible, but on the flip side you have to do it his/her way. This was when I felt pretty stuck - because I felt that I'm not exploring the various possible lenses but rather given this one lens and to work with it (not even knowing what kind of lens it was too). For the first time I felt rather discouraged, isn't psychology all about exploring and accepting the differences? Why do I have to be stuck doing things in his/her vantage point rather than mine? This was when I also realized how psychology people are not all friendly, kind with open hearts and minds - there are some pain-in-the-butt-like-crazy-scientists psychology researchers and educators who judge and critique (negatively) your piece of work. It was quite a painful reality struck.
Even so, I had thought of being an educator in this field of psychology. I hope that future generations of psychologists would feel and see how fascinating psychology is (even though I feel confused and annoyed with the gazillion standpoints, lol) - to inspire humanity.
-Jas-
Since I have been freaking out most of the time since day 1 of Semester 2 until this very minute, I might as well blog a little bit - changing the procrastination to something slightly more productive (although I know I have other better things to do, aside from reading journals).
I suddenly realized how crucial the role of a lecturer is, especially in teaching and presenting the subjects in relation to psychology. Probably I came a little bit too slow in realizing the reasons why.
The crucial factors - are being flexible as well as open minded. I noticed how the lecturers I had came across with (both undergraduate and postgraduate level) had similar mindsets in teaching the art of psychology. They are always trying to get in touch with our inner sides - philosophically, interests and humanity. They are promoting us ways of critically thinking the political issues surrounding psychology theories and studies.
Nonetheless, they are teaching - starting from their own perspective and point of view towards a particular topic of discussion. This is something that I find extremely crucial and delicate to handle and pass on, because they are potentially teaching and sculpting new generations of researchers. They wanted us to see things not just in a particular way (be it in feminists, social constructionists, realists, relativists, anthropologists, etc), but to encourage these vantages in hopes to inspire new psychologists. In other words, these lecturers are providing us the various conventional lenses to look into the topics discussed inside and outside the classroom context.
I suppose some researchers and psychologists (and yes, including myself) are obsessed in viewing a certain topic of interest just in that one lens they have - and use (and also, for most of them still using) that perspective for decades in their are of expertise. Although some lecturers (who happens to publish their own journals and books pretty much over here) revealed how their grounds have changed after rethinking a particular "belief" in psychology/ humans they had for decades. Well, things just always change doesn't it? I guess what is needed is to be informed that "there will be change", but whether or not it will affect my stand and thoughts - is something to consider when the time comes.
Then again, what if we stumble across some lecturers who are pretty stuck up with "their way" in psychology? Well, this was actually how I realized teachers' roles are such crucial peoples in our lives. I happen to came across a particular lecturer this semester who seemed to be flexible, but on the flip side you have to do it his/her way. This was when I felt pretty stuck - because I felt that I'm not exploring the various possible lenses but rather given this one lens and to work with it (not even knowing what kind of lens it was too). For the first time I felt rather discouraged, isn't psychology all about exploring and accepting the differences? Why do I have to be stuck doing things in his/her vantage point rather than mine? This was when I also realized how psychology people are not all friendly, kind with open hearts and minds - there are some pain-in-the-butt-like-crazy-scientists psychology researchers and educators who judge and critique (negatively) your piece of work. It was quite a painful reality struck.
Even so, I had thought of being an educator in this field of psychology. I hope that future generations of psychologists would feel and see how fascinating psychology is (even though I feel confused and annoyed with the gazillion standpoints, lol) - to inspire humanity.
-Jas-
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