Dr. Melissa Smith, LPCC-S, NCC
Teaching
Teaching CACREP Doctoral Competencies (2016):
a. Roles and responsibilities related to educating counselors
b. Pedagogy and teaching methods relevant to counselor education
c. Models of adult development and learning
d. Instructional and curriculum design, delivery, and evaluation methods relevant to counselor education
e. Effective approaches for online instruction
f. Screening, remediation, and gatekeeping functions relevant to teaching
g. Assessment of learning
h. Ethical and culturally relevant strategies used in counselor preparation
i. The role of mentoring in counselor education
Teaching Competency
Artifacts of Teaching Competency
In COUC 747, Instruction in Counselor Education, I developed my personal teaching philosophy. In completing this assignment, I spent time reflecting on my personal experiences as a student and areas of growth that I have experienced on my path. Through this reflection, I was able to develop my conceptualization of an effective teacher and teaching environment. I believe that it is essential that learning environments are fun and engaging and encourage an active learning environment. Additionaly information about my teaching philosophy can be found here: Personal Teaching Philosophy.
This artifact provides evidence of mastery level competency for the following competencies: a, b, c, d, g, h, and i.
Additionally, through my time in COUC 747, I gained knowledge and became competent in syllabus preparation, effective teaching methods, and lesson preparation. Below is an example of a sample lesson created to demonstrate the new knowlege from the course. The prepared PowerPoint for the lesson can be found here: Motivation and Change PowerPoint.
These artifacts provide evidence of mastery level competency for the following competencies: a, b, c, d, e, g, and h.
In COUC 710, Advanced Group Counseling, I completed a lecture for a Master’s level Group Counseling class. In preparation for this lecture, I completed a Group Lecture Teaching Plan that outlined the lecture according to the anticipated learning outcomes. For this lecture, I tested out a hybrid presentation format in which I played a pre-prepared video of the lecture that incorporated different breaks in which I engaged the students in real-time. To further support engagement, I included an activity for the class to participate in (Loss of Control Activity) which served as a catalyst for additional discussion. Additionally, I created a document of Lecture Notes that I shared with the students during the presentation to provide them additional resources.
This presentation greatly increased my knowledge, skills, and abilities to teach at a graduate level. I learned from this experience that the hybrid format was very effective in retaining student’s attention. Additionally, this form of lecture assisted with maintaining a balance between covering all of the required material and being cognizant of the time.
A copy of this lecture can be found here: Incorporating Cultural Humilty into Practice with Substance Abuse Groups or you can watch it directly below. The PowerPoint used for the presentation, along with my personal notes for the presentation can be found here: PPT for Hybrid Presentation.
The assigned professor Dr. Keith-Barbarian completed an evaluation of my teaching and that can be found here: Evaluation of Teaching Experience. Dr. Barbian-Keith stated, “Melissa did a fantastic job. Her lesson plan well prepared and informative. She utilized class participation to reinforce material. Overall, well done and very engaging”.
These artifacts provide evidence of master level competency for the following competencies: b, d, e, g, and h.
The experiential learning opportunities provided during the COUC 980 Supervision Internship course has had a profound impact on me. Under the supervision of Dr. Stacey Lilley, my colleague and I were provided the opportunity to lead the class and facilitate lectures for Master’s level students enrolled in the course COUC 698 Practicum. During each Saturday class, I grew more confident as I was provided the space, encouragement, and support to assist with lectures, manage student concerns, post announcements in Canva Learning Mangement system, and review, grade, and provide feedback to students regarding their assignments. During this course, I gained an exponential amount of knowledge and confidence in my ability to manage the multiple responsibilities necessary to effectively teach graduate level courses. While teaching was not an explicit requirement of the COUC 980 Supervision Internship course, Dr. Lilley provided the opportunity, support, and flexibility for myself and my colleague to lead lectures and gain additional experience teaching.
For each opportunity to teach, I prepared a new PowerPoint tailored to the student’s learning style and the needs presented of the current students. These PowerPoints can be found here: Ethical Decision Making and Risk Assessment. A portion of the Risk Assessment lecture is provided below. Additionally, the students requested assistance with their required CPCE and I created a CPCE Jeopardy game for use in class and provided additional resources for outside of class study.
Following completion of the course, I received evaluations from students and Dr. Lilley regarding their perception of my competency. The evaluations can be found here: Student Evaluations and Faculty Evaluation.
These artifacts provide evidence of mastery level competency for the following competencies: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, and k
Upon entering COUC 970 Teaching Internship, I felt a profound understanding of teaching skills and a secure level of competency as a professor. Working alongside Dr. Parker, I co-taught a Master’s level course. In COU 505 Counseling Techniques and Helping Relationship, I was provided the opportunity to teach two lectures and provide feedback to students as they practices their counseling techniques. In preparation for the two lectures, I created lesson plans and PowerPoint presentations. Following the presentations, I documented reflections of my experiences. These can be found here: ‘Reflection of Meaning’ lesson plan and reflection. ‘Questions and Immediacy’ lesson plan and reflection.
Following completion of the course, I received evaluations from students and Dr. Parker regarding their perception of my competency. The evaluations can be found here: Student Evaluations and Faculty Evaluation.
These artifacts provide evidence of master level competency for the following competencies: b, d, e, g, and h.
Teaching Reflection
Reflect on the process of developing leadership level knowledge, skills, and practices in this competency. What has been especially impactful/meaningful/important to you personally and professionally?
Prior to starting at Liberty, I had gained experience as an Adjunct Faculty member at three different colleges. I attribute these experiences as a major driver that pushed me in the direction of entering this program. As I refect back on my time in this program, I believe that my former teaching experience combined with the knowledge, skills, and practice gained at Liberty, has allowed me to truly excel in this competency. As seen above in the videos provided, I have not only the skill to teach but also the passion and desire to help guide students. Each of the professors and colleagues that I have been blessed to work alongside have had a deep and profound impact on my both personally and professionally.
Describe an area of strength that you have developed while in the program in this area of competency. What is one way you plan to utilize this strength in your vocation?
An area of strength that I have developed while in this program is the ability to go ‘above and beyond’ with my instructional design. At Liberty, I was given the freedom to design lectures and lessons. With this freedom, I incorporated various forms of technology and have found a love for the integration of technology into counselor education. I plan to use this passion to pursue the integration of immersive virtual reality in the future.
Describe an area of challenge/growth opportunity in this area of competency. What is your plan to develop excellence in this area?
One challenge I encountered in thisare of competency was mastering the art of stepping back and actively learning while co-teaching. I worry that my enthusiasm for taking on a teaching role might have led to me dominating the conversation and not allowing my co-teacher to contribute fully. Although I did not receive this specific feedback, I intend to be more conscientious in the future and actively work on improving my co-teaching approach.