by Chonglu Huang
Writer
A winner of the 2019-2020 Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa (APUO) and uOttawa’s Awards of Excellence in Teaching, Dr. Ali Jalali is a passionate and innovative medical educator and long-time head of the Division of Clinical and Functional Anatomy.
Check out his “7 Teaching Tips for Young Educators” in academia.
Tip 1 — Be resilient: For every success, you will have some failures and setbacks; stay positive and persistent in every endeavour you pursue in your career.
Tip 2 — Learn to say no: Young professors and early career researchers are sometimes asked to take on more than possible. Be sure to manage your workload so that you can protect your productivity.
Tip 3 — Keep it short and simple: Resist the urge to show off what you know to your students. Instead, keep your teaching methods simple and tailored toward your students’ learning to help them succeed.
Tip 4 — Negotiate time not just money: Remember to negotiate your time—something that you cannot buy. Protect it so that you focus on your key deliverables and thrive with a work-life balance.
Tip 5 — Protect your writing time: Don’t fall behind on your publication goals. Slot in blocks of writing time in your calendar, so that you progress in your long-term projects.
Tip 6 — Know your work environment: Familiarize yourself with the guidelines and criteria of career advancement at your institution. Understand that university is a space meant for peer review. Be open to criticism and mentorship and you will grow.
Tip 7 — Respect is key: Always treat your students, colleagues and superiors the way you want to be treated—with respect, professionalism and kindness.
Dr. Ali Jalali's "7 Tips for Young Educators" infographic now available for download as pdf.
