Why is teaching fun?
"Nowhere else than in the speech and language pathology programme can I meet students who are as interested in my subject as I am. I like the continuity, being able to follow the students for four years and see how we develop together. When I teach about my own research, the students give me an immediate confirmation of whether what I am thinking about is understandable and relevant to others. I also enjoy hearing that my teaching and that of my colleagues has made the students dare to question ill-founded truths in the clinic and school," says Olof Sandgren. "It's fun to meet the students and to follow their development. It is a stimulating challenge to help students get both deep and broad preparation for a future professional life. A professional life that increasingly involves employment and assignments outside of traditional health care. It is important to have an external perspective and keep up with the development of both pedagogy and our subject occupational therapy/occupational science," says Pia Hovbrandt.
How do you become a good teacher?
"By being reflective about the teaching methods and learning elements we use. To listen and talk to the students and be prepared to make changes to meet the students' different needs. Of course, it is incredibly important to have an ongoing pedagogical discussion among teachers about the need for knowledge that students need to meet the future need for occupational therapists," says Pia Hovbrandt.
"By teaching together with others and being open to feedback. By daring to listen to the students and take their opinions seriously. By having high expectations of the students and giving them the support they need to reach all the way," says Olof Sandgren, adding:
"It's interesting to see how all the failed teaching attempts and wrong priorities I made suddenly made me see that I've actually developed since I started teaching, and that there's a lot left to learn."