TEACHING IN COLLEGES

Teaching in Colleges

In college teaching, teachers and learners are key stakeholders and they share in the success of college teaching. The main focus of college teaching is to develop how students act, think, or approach their study field and practice. Today, teaching in college involves both in-person learning and online learning. According to Dziuban et al (2018), blended learning has largely been incorporated in college teaching and it includes the use of modern technologies. However, it would be prudent to note that the said form of learning may have unprecedented challenges from the perspective of both instructors and students. This is more so the case given that as Dziuban et al (2018) indicate, blended learning creates an educational gap between communities that have greater technological and financial resources and the students who are underserved. To ensure that there is quality in college teaching, there should be a balance between the said communities. It is important to note that blended learning can close the said gap by identifying challenges in the said form of teaching and coming up with strategies that will help rein in the said challenges. This is more so the case given that the world of today happens to be largely blended and thus requires a blended form of learning so as to ensure competence (Dziuban et al, 2018).

College teaching entails complex activities whose relevance cannot be measured or overstated. This is more so the case given that it leads to development of global competence among learners. In essence, students are equipped with global competence skills that enhance their ability to thrive or succeed in the world which is termed a global village. Therefore, global competence, as Majewaska (2022) points out, is an essential competency based skill for students if they will thrive in the said global village. This is more so the case given that global competence includes a number of skills that are based on knowledge about global issues, cultures, and world geography. For this reason, students will be enriched with skills that would help them in their area of study as well as in their practice settings (DallAlba, 1994). To a large extent, students who are equipped with the said knowledge tend to have enhanced abilities when collaborating with other inter-professionals in their present as well as future carriers.

Teaching in colleges comprises of various pedagogies or teaching models that could be included or incorporated in instruction so as to improve competence in college teaching. Key elements on this front could be inclusive of, but they are not limited to; diversity in contemporary settings, empathy, intercultural communication, awareness of relevant issues and current events, and awareness of diverse cultures (Majewaska, 2022). On the other hand, competence among learners can be improved by embracing a global competence teaching approach that is cost effective and one that targets college students. For instance, a culturally competent instruction approach that is technology-facilitated/mediated could be embraced in this case. The said approach would be effective given that college students are likely to be able to interact with their colleagues from various settings without any constraints on either the logistical/cost fronts or in relation to intercultural engagement formats (Haughton and Schodl, 2020). As learners engage in the said diverse configurations, the author further suggest that they would be able to develop global competence. This would be the case given that...

…of technology in learning. However, it is important to note that most of its professors, especially those who are hired on the basis of course-by-course and are not tenured, indicate that during the pandemic, they had additional teaching workloads. In addition, the said instructors had higher workloads owing to the increased demand for remote learning (Onderdok, 2022). This was not accompanied by additional compensation. For this reason, some of the said instructors have had to consider other employment opportunities. Liberty University is another example of an institution that has embraced online learning in college teaching. According to Thelin (2017), the said university enrolls approximately more than 100, 000 students on yearly basis. The university also seeks to maintain strong connections with its alumni. In addition, the said university also hires teachers from underserved groups in the academic profession despite the unfortunate timing, discrimination, and obstacles of inertia (Thelin, 2017).

To a larger extent, inclusion of technology-facilitated approaches in college teaching has provided teachers with endless opportunities to integrate global competence skills in college teaching. This is more so the case given that it has helped students develop global competence skills that improve their functionality and ability to operate in diverse cultural settings. Essentially, online learning has been deemed effective by teachers as well as students in improving how they function as global citizens. This is more so the case given that it promotes their ability to appreciate other peoples way of lives as well as perspectives. However, there is need for instructors to be conversant with the barriers or challenges highlighted herein. Essentially, the said barriers limit instructors effectiveness in the execution of their roles. This is more so the case in…