Most Important Skills for a History Educator at a Community College
To be a successful history teacher and adjunct professor, diplomacy and clear communication are paramount; the ability to "resolve conflicts" and ensure students feel "their perspective" is valued is crucial. A love of people, combined with strong organizational skills, is also essential for a long and rewarding career in this field.
Communication, Diplomacy, Organization, Conflict Resolution, Empathy
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Truth Akins
History Teacher and Adjunct Professor
SAGE Magnet & Cerro Coso Community College
San Diego State University
UCI Criminology and UCLA Urban Education
Criminal Justice
Education
Education
Disabled, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Veteran, Transfer Student, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Diplomacy and conflict resolution skills are essential for addressing student conflicts and ensuring a fair learning environment.
2. Clear communication is crucial for conveying instructions effectively and ensuring student understanding.
3. A genuine love for people and organizational skills are vital for maintaining a fulfilling and sustainable career in teaching and avoiding burnout.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
Diplomacy is a very important skill. You have to want to be able to resolve conflicts because you're going to have conflicts often, and the students will have conflicts. You want to be able to know how to resolve them without having to go outside to a third party.
If you have to, you know the steps if something rises to a certain level for safety. But you definitely want to be able to be a diplomat when it comes to students, and give them an opportunity to seek fairness and to find truth, their truth, have their perspective and support it with their opinion. Don't let anyone disrespect that, and give them their space to speak.
You want to be able to communicate clearly and get your instructions out clearly, so students won't feel like they don't know what's going on. You have to be organized and you have to love people to do this. Otherwise, you'd burn out. But if you love people, then you would relax around them and the students, and be able to have a lifelong career with teaching.