Avoid Self-Presentation Pitfalls

Theoretical Thursday

 

Avoid Self-Presentation Pitfalls

This above all; to thine own self be true. -- William Shakespeare

Who are you?

 

As members of the professoriate, we know that scholarship, teaching, and research are our primary duties. At the core of those responsibilities for online adjuncts lies teaching. Within teaching there are eight general standards recognized by the Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric for online and blended courses (www.qualitymatters.org/rubric). These are…

Course Overview and Introduction

Learning Objectives/Competencies

Assessment and Measurement

Instructional Materials

Learner Interaction & Engagement

Course Technology

Learner Support

Accessibility

These standard components work in conjunction with one another to achieve successful learning outcomes and support educational objectives. Therefore, evaluation of your personal practices in these areas will inform the creation of your resume, curriculum vita, and online image. Stress the great things you do in each of these areas and present your strengths in a positive light.

Likewise, the sources of information used to evaluate your performance as adjunct faculty include classroom observations, syllabus reviews, review of teaching materials, informal faculty feedback, peer evaluation, grade reviews, informal student feedback, and instructor self-evaluations (Langen, 2011). So, it will benefit you to keep a current file of kudos you receive, excellent evaluations, current syllabi, and effective lessons as part of your teaching portfolio and as support for your position when evaluations are conducted.

In the spirit of purity, our virtue of the month, be aware of how you present yourself both in person and online. Be consistent. Be clear. Be you.

While impression management is important, a more pressing issue is ensuring your true personality shines through both in your one-on-one interactions and your one-to-many online presentations. DeAndrea and Walter (2011) remind us in their research using Self-Presentation Theory, Traditional Attribution Theory, and Folk-Conceptual Theory of Explanation, “what may be simple acts of impression management for the benefit of some viewers may be construed as embellishments, distortions, or dishonesties when viewed by others” (p. 806). In light of this, it is always a good idea to have friends and colleagues provide their sincere opinions of your professional portfolio and online presentation before you share them with the world or prospective employers in order to avoid any unnecessary negative perceptions.

Thanks for stopping by! Please add your voice to our current survey for adjunct faculty who teach online or in a blended learning environment.

Join me here tomorrow for our Weekly Wrap-Up!

See you then, 

Melynda

@Melynda Conner

#TCBHigherEd

References:

DeAndrea, D. C. & Walther, J. B. (2011). Attributions for Inconsistencies Between Online and Offline Self-Presentations. Communication Research, 38(6), 805-825. Retrieved from http://crx.sagepub.com/content/38/6/805.abstract

 

Langen, J. M. (2011). Evaluation of adjunct faculty in higher education institutions. Assessment & Evaluation In Higher Education, 36(2), 185-196. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02602930903221501?journalCode=caeh20#preview