Who Thrives in Higher Education According to a CSULB Professor
According to Herman, a CSU Long Beach professor, people who thrive in higher education are "really student centered," constantly seeking ways to help students succeed and adapt to modern challenges. Furthermore, success is found by those who embrace adaptability, integrating technology like AI into their teaching to effectively prepare students for the evolving workforce and ensure they are not "behind the curve."
Student-Centered, Adaptability, Technological Proficiency, Innovation in Teaching, AI Integration
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Herman Singh
Professor
CSU Long Beach
CSU Long Beach
Economics
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Education
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Student-centered focus is key: Prioritizing student needs and success is essential for thriving in higher education.
2. Adaptability is crucial: Being able to adjust to changes, like the shift to online learning during COVID-19, and adopting new teaching methods is vital.
3. Embrace technology, especially AI: Integrating technology and teaching students how to effectively use AI is essential in today's world.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
In my opinion, I think it's people who really care about the students. Everyone I know that thrives in higher education is really student-centered. It always comes back to the student: "How am I helping the student? How are we making their life easier? How are we making them better for the workforce? How are we helping them achieve their goals?" That's how I measure if somebody is successful or not in the industry or able to thrive.
Also, being adaptable is important. COVID was a huge thing for us in higher education, and K through 12 as well. Being online and talking to blank screens all day was very challenging.
But being adaptable, being able to bend with the times, and adopt new types of ways to teach students has really helped people thrive. The way students are learning now is not the same way people were learning pre-COVID or even in the nineties.
Being able to teach online is crucial in the world we live in. Students like to be online and have access to a lot of technology. We're doing our students a disservice if we're not helping them integrate that technology into their daily lives or become more efficient with it.
So, AI is a huge thing. I think people who are thriving right now are the ones teaching students how to use AI effectively. Whatever your major, background, or program, you have to know AI, or else you're behind the curve.