From Boardroom to Classroom: Unpacking My Teaching Evaluation

From the corridors of corporate decision-making to the energetic classrooms at the university, my journey has been nothing short of a roller coaster. Riding these two very different tracks - one of business strategy and the other of academic instruction - has been a delicate dance. The intertwining of my professional endeavors with academic aspirations has always felt enriching, a confluence where real-world insights meet the curiosity of eager minds.

This unique perspective made the moment of receiving my teaching evaluation all the more relevant. The proverbial envelope in my hand wasn’t just a review of my teaching methods; it was a reflection of the intersection of my dual roles. Was I effectively translating client-facing strategies into classroom lessons? Were my students benefiting from this melding of worlds??

For educators, irrespective of our backgrounds, teaching evaluations are much more than just feedback. They act as mirrors, sometimes magnifying, sometimes kindly softening, but always reflecting our dedication, our methodologies, and the myriad ways we touch the lives of our students. With this in mind, I decided to unpack and share my evaluation, also known as a Chair’s/Supervisor’s Report, offering a glimpse into my world and the lessons I learned along the way.?

For further clarification, this is different from a “course evaluation ,” where there is a final survey that faculty members send to students to evaluate the student learning experience . My teaching evaluation incorporates both a reflection on student ratings and classroom observations.

Blending Professional Expertise with Academic Rigor

The bridge between theoretical knowledge and real-world application is more important than ever. I was extremely gratified to have read the feedback that recognized the harmony between my entrepreneurial journey and my role as an educator at the Parsons School of Design. One area of evaluation on my report included: “Currency in the Field/Scholarship: The instructor is current in the field.” The combination of these two worlds (entrepreneurial and academic) isn't just coincidental; it's deliberate, cultivated with the aim to provide students with a holistic learning experience. I was glad to have exceeded expectations in this realm.

As the Founder and CEO of Forbes Ignite, every day presents a plethora of challenges, decisions, and opportunities. Each business decision, each strategy devised, and even each failure encountered becomes a potential lesson, an anecdote, or a case study for my students. This direct translation of real-world experiences into academic lessons provides students with a richer, more textured understanding of the subjects. It offers them insights into the nuances that textbooks might miss, and it gives them a taste of the unpredictable nature of the industry landscape.

When students engage with someone who is not just teaching from a book but from lived experiences, it creates a dynamic classroom environment. Discussions become more vibrant, as students are not just asking hypothetical questions but seeking insights on real-life scenarios. My courses 'Financial Management' and 'Strategic Design for Social Innovation' inherently carry a blend of theoretical frameworks and practical strategies. Being able to exemplify these with my own experiences has made the teaching and learning process all the more engaging.

The combination of my professional expertise with academic rigor does more than just enrich lessons. It humanizes them. It showcases that behind every theory, every strategy, there’s a story, a challenge, a decision made, and a lesson learned. It reminds students that their education is not just about acquiring knowledge but about preparing for the multifaceted world awaiting them beyond the classroom walls.

Collaboration, Networking, and Enrichment

The boundaries of the virtual and in-person classroom have expanded far beyond what we’ve always known. As educators, we're not just imparting knowledge but shaping experiences, crafting opportunities, and igniting passions. The feedback from my evaluation, as told by this area of evaluation: “The syllabus reflects current discourse and contemporary knowledge of the field,” underscored the significance of this multifaceted role. This also highlights the immense potential of intertwining my professional network with the academic realm.

Imagine a student, deeply engaged in a study module, suddenly having the opportunity to interact with an industry expert to ask questions, to understand the realities, and to get a glimpse of potential career paths. These moments can be transformative. They can offer clarity, inspiration, and sometimes even mentorship opportunities.?

Every interaction and connection I make in my professional journey becomes a potential resource for my students. By introducing them to this network, I aim to ensure that their academic journey isn't confined to books and lectures, but is accentuated with real-world insights and interactions. When I invited guest speakers from my network to speak with my Social Innovation class, including the former Chief Operating Officer of the National Audubon Society , the Founder of Browngirl Green , and a Principal from DBL Partners (one of the world’s first and largest impact investment funds), students were able to tie concepts together and also ask relevant questions about the guest speakers’ background. It made for a robust discussion and provided perspectives that would later help shape the way my students approached each of their projects.

Also, the power of collaboration isn't just external; it's deeply rooted within the academic institution itself. The evaluation pointed out the importance of collaborating with fellow instructors, a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. In academia, as in life, the pooling together of diverse perspectives, resources, and methodologies can lead to incredible outcomes. When instructors share, exchange, and collaborate, it results in a richer, more nuanced curriculum. It ensures that students get a 360-degree view, benefiting from the collective wisdom of multiple educators.

Further areas of evaluation included:?

• “Cumulatively, the student ratings for this instructor were strong.”
• “The instructor met the educational goals and objectives as set forth by the approved syllabus or course agenda.”
• “The instructor makes appropriate referrals to university support systems.”
• “Where appropriate, the instructor incorporates technology into the course.”

Modern education is increasingly becoming about interconnectedness. It's about weaving together knowledge, experience, networking, and collaboration to create a rich foundation for learning. My commitment is not just to teach, but to facilitate, connect, and enrich. I want to ensure that every student is not just educated, but empowered.

Concluding Thoughts

Reflection is more than just a momentary glance in the rearview mirror; it's a deep dive into understanding our journey's nuances and intricacies. When I first opened my teaching evaluation, I was nervous and also a little bit anxious. This was my first teaching evaluation since I started teaching in the spring semester of 2020. I taught in-person for a grand total of 2 months before everything went online due to the pandemic. I have kept my instruction online ever since.?

It was a synthesis of interactions, efforts, aspirations, and outcomes from years of dedicated teaching. It encapsulated the countless hours of preparation, the late-night revisions, and the spontaneous classroom discussions that led to profound insights. But more than a review of the past, it was a gateway to the future.

Every feedback, every comment, every suggestion is a stepping stone, helping me carve out the path ahead. It's a reminder that in the landscape of education, complacency is not an option. As educators, we have the dual responsibility of imparting knowledge and igniting curiosity. It's not just about what we teach, but how we inspire our students to think, question, and explore beyond the confines of the classroom. May we always approach each class, each student, each challenge with the same enthusiasm and passion as our first. Because at the heart of every great educator is an eternal student, ever curious, ever evolving.

To the entire academic ecosystem—educators, industry professionals, and students. To educators: seek out opportunities to blend your professional experiences with your teaching methodologies. Allow your real-world encounters to breathe life into the theories and concepts you teach. To industry professionals who are on the fence about stepping into academia: there's a classroom waiting for your unique insights, your stories of trials, tribulations, and triumphs.

And to our students, the torchbearers of the future: be discerning in your quest for knowledge. Seek out educators who don’t just teach from the book but bring the world into the classroom. It's in this collaboration, this combination of academic rigor and professional expertise, that the most profound learning experiences are created. Together, let's reimagine education, making it more relevant, more dynamic, and infinitely more impactful. Let's craft a legacy of learning that future generations will be proud to inherit.

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Yours,

Nicole Cacal

Adjunct Professor at the Parsons School of Design

Visiting Associate Professor at the Pratt Institute