Faculty Psychology: The Role of Mentoring and Development
Faculty psychology is an important area of study that investigates how faculty members think, feel, and act in the educational setting. This field has seen tremendous growth over the past several decades as universities have become more aware of the need to support faculty in their professional development. This article will discuss the role of mentoring and development in faculty psychology, and how they can help faculty members to be successful within their educational environment.
Mentoring is a key component of faculty psychology. Mentoring can help faculty members to learn new skills, develop professionally, and develop relationships with peers and students. Mentors provide guidance and support to faculty members, which can be especially beneficial for new faculty members who may be unfamiliar with the expectations and requirements of their new role. Mentors can also help faculty members to identify and address any issues they may have and to provide feedback on their progress.
Development activities are also an important aspect of faculty psychology. Professional development activities allow faculty members to learn new skills, gain new perspectives, and understand the expectations of their role. These activities can take many forms, such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and online courses, and can help faculty members to stay current with the latest advancements in their fields. Professional development activities can also provide faculty members with an opportunity to build relationships with other faculty members and to network with peers in their field.
Finally, faculty psychology can provide faculty members with an opportunity to reflect on their roles and responsibilities as educators. Through reflection and self-assessment, faculty members can gain important insights into their teaching practices, and can identify areas for improvement. Reflection can also help faculty members to develop a greater understanding of their students and of the educational environment in which they operate.
In conclusion, faculty psychology is an important area of study that investigates how faculty members think, feel, and act in the educational setting. Mentoring and development activities are key components of faculty psychology, and can help faculty members to be successful. Professional development activities can help faculty members to stay current with the latest advancements in their fields, while self-reflection can help faculty members to gain important insights into their teaching practices.
References
Hatcher, D. (2017). Faculty psychology: A primer for new faculty members. In A. L. W. V. M. (Ed.), Graduate and Professional Student Mentoring Handbook (pp. 77-84). Springer, Cham.
Wei, M., & Burd, P. (2020). Professional development for faculty: Enhancing teaching practices and student learning. Teaching and Teacher Education, 97, 103746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2020.103746
Gutierrez, K., & Sprenger, J. (2020). The role of faculty reflection in teaching and learning. New Directions for Teaching & Learning, 2020(166), 15-22. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.20350