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this student never fails to ask precisely what I meant when I explained a topic. This
student then precisely restates the topic and then sums up precisely whatever
information I presented. The student is very polite and is not shy. However, the student
has little room for gray in the process of analysis. Actually, I enjoy the challenges that
are presented. There are several underlying lessons I am trying to teach when I work with
this student. The obvious lesson is that I want to insure the questions are correctly stated
and answered. I also want to let everyone else know that each student in my class is
respected and is not only allowed, but encouraged, to challenge the issues presented. I
hope I am demonstrating my patience because these discussions can continue for more
than a few minutes. (So, from now on I am going to forget about how to effectively present
my material to a four-year-old; (one of the CAT suggestions), but rather, how to precisely
present the material to a student that I have come to like, admire and enjoy.)

So, getting back to Columbus, I must say that this new world through which I have just
started traveling, is not where I expected to be. Columbus expected to be in India. I
expected to be imparting my accounting wisdom and experience to students through my
“charm” and “language skills” Instead, I am learning how much I don’t know….about
teaching. Does it frighten me? Not a bit! I am looking forward to finding out more about
how to engage today’s students, regardless of their age.

I have learned that the more engaged students become in the learning process, the more
they will learn how to learn. I realize now that I am not supposed to be one who simply
imparts great knowledge about accounting. I also need to teach how to learn and how to
think critically. In my classes, I have started talking about why some accounting
procedures make sense, not just how to perform them.

How could the ACP be better? To be quite honest, the money was not an enticement to
me. Evidently. my department chair and her successor believe in me. I know that their
goals are the same as those embraced, encouraged and espoused by Lone Star. I deeply
believe in the same goals. Student success, not just the grades, but success in life,
collaboration, togetherness, the ability to take charge of one’s life and self-realization will
make a difference in the world we know. That is why I am in this course. That is why I
teach.

To continue, my first thought is that the course could be longer. There is a lot to cover in
a short amount of time. On second thought, if one is really inspired, one will find a way to
come back and more deeply investigate the material. It is sometimes disappointing when
IT links malfunction, but we all know, this is to be expected. We just need to work around
it. Regardless of how the course was structured, I am a different and better teacher than
I was before I started the course. I still have a long way to go, but I have more tools than
I did before.

So, Columbus, I hope you embraced the new things in every port you entered. You must
have done so, because you made the trip the “new world” several more times. Like you
did, I am embracing all the things I am finding in my “new world”.
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