Teaching is an art well-worth the time
School of Nursing (SON) professor, Dr. Karen Parsons' says her favourite teaching venue is the classroom.
It's where she is best able to choose the medium, present clear messages, work closely with her students and craft the kind of environment that not only promotes their engagement, but also their critical thinking and problem solving skills.
A faculty member for almost 20 years, Dr. Parsons received a 2014 President's Award for Distinguished Teaching during a recent ceremony with Memorial President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gary Kachanoski and other award recipients.
"The President's Award for Distinguished Teaching is very meaningful to me both personally and professionally," said Dr. Parsons about the award. "It is such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment to have received such a prestigious award and to be given recognition and appreciation from my peers in the university community for something I love to do.
"Professionally, knowing that what you do has influenced others and made a difference to the professional development of the nursing students who work so hard to be their best is the ultimate reward!"
Dr. Alice Gaudine, dean of the School of Nursing, has worked with Dr. Parsons for many years, and has observed her interactions with students both in the formal and informal settings.
"I believe she is an outstanding nominee for the President's Award for Distinguished Teaching," wrote Dr. Gaudine in her letter of support for Dr. Parsons. "Her respect for students and her ability to engage them in meaningful learning activities are evident by students' evaluation of her teaching, "
Dr. Parsons received her bachelor of Nursing (BN) and master of Nursing (MN) from Memorial University School of Nursing, and her PhD in Nursing from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, focusing on Alzheimer's disease for her dissertation.
She joined the School of Nursing in 1995, and in 2000 became an assistant professor. She completed her doctoral degree in nursing in 2005, achieved tenure in 2006 and was promoted to associate professor in 2010.
Her interest in pedagogy and curriculum development led her to develop the undergraduate Healthy Aging course and feedback from students has confirmed her talent to teach and inform.
As Dr. Parson's sees it, her responsibility is to help students gain insight and knowledge, and engage with learning that is meaningful to them, so they are able to develop a nursing practice that has high regard for social justice, empathy and ethics.
Her research expertise in the care of older adults, including those with Alzheimer's disease, helps create synergy in the classroom; she engages her students with stories that she shares from her nursing and research with older adults.
One of her graduate students wrote, "From the first time we spoke, I have been influenced and inspired by Dr. Parson's positive attitude about my graduate work and her ongoing support, continued feedback and the knowledge she has shared... She is truly an inspiration to a beginning researcher like me."
To new faculty members, Dr. Parson's offers this advice:
"Teaching is an art that takes much time and work. There is quite a lot of support available on campus for new faculty, and I have always found the professional services of DELTS to be greatly beneficial. My experience has been that senior faculty members are readily available to lend an ear and offer words of wisdom and support.
"There are great days and not so great days, so do not get discouraged. In the end if you love teaching, the rewards are always greater than the disappointments, and always remember that influence is more important than authority."