June 20, 2007 at 9:20 pm
· Filed under Public Relations, Australia
My palms are sweaty. I know my voice will break when I speak. It’s time to re-enter the classroom. But this time it’s not as a student. Starting in July I am teaching a course at RMIT.
We face a real skills shortage in Australia. The decade of economic growth and lure of exotic Asia dry the pool of skilled candidates. We have repeatedly paid recruiters when looking for talented professionals.
One long-term way to overcome the issue is to increase the capabilities of new entrants to the workforce. RMIT has a fantastic undergraduate communications programs - it’s probably the best in Australia. This semester I am proudly joining the faculty to teach one course. Titled, “Social Context of Professional Practice,” this is the final course for students before they earn their degree. It requires students to undertake a dedicated research project - and attend lectures on issues relevant to public relations practitioners today.
It’s been some time since I was in a classroom, and while I’ll gladly present before any company’s board, I am intimidated by the prospect of keeping the attention and interest of undergraduates.
Any tips for a “soon-to-be” teacher? What did your favourite teacher do to keep you engaged at school?
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[…] Walter Jennings, who I’m helping out with blog stuff, is making the transition from boardroom to classroom next month and is uncharacteristically concerned. […]
My high school geography teacher started every lesson with a human interest story, engaging and personalising the topic we were looking with insight and emotion. He would return all the time to that one story line to show relevance in what we were learning. Years later when i went to a presenting course i realised that what he using basic NLP anchoring skills. clever bugger, everyone loves a story. Good luck sir. (PS i toped the school at Geography because of him)
Steve wrote @ July 2nd, 2007 at 12:18 am
Engage your class, mix it up, be unpredictable and foremost “teach from the heart the mind will follow” and so will your students.
- Cheers
sophie wrote @ August 21st, 2007 at 9:31 am
I was one of the many students listening to your first lecture at RMIT last semester (that was intro to PR), inhaling every word and enjoying most of them. I just wanted to let you know , and I think I’m speaking on behalf of all the people who dragged themselves out that morning, that we highly appreciate your career turn. The words of advice written above came too late for our lecture, but you didn’t seem to need them.
I hope you’ll stick around long enough at RMIT for me to enjoy another lecture with you. Considering that you chose to take 3rd year classes only, long enough will translate into 2 more years!
thank you once again -s
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My palms are sweaty. I know my voice will break when I speak. It’s time to re-enter the classroom. But this time it’s not as a student. Starting in July I am teaching a course at RMIT. 
