The
Synergy of Purpose in Teaching, Scholarship, and
Service
To be truly effective, professors not only need to develop their pedagogy, but also need to continually expand their scholarship and cultivate their service to others. Both of these extend, support, and enhance instructional pedagogy. Scholarship empowers the professor to continue learning and growing in the field. It also stimulates learning about new ideas and topics that will further develop the richness of the professor’s practice. Service allows the professor to serve others in the university, community, and profession. This service connects the professor with peers in all facets of education.
Reflecting on this synergy of purpose, I have developed the model shown here. It represents a constant effort by me to make the three facets of the university professorship support each other and synergize. The constant meshing and aligning of these three pillars provides the depth and breadth needed by an effective university professor.
To be truly effective, professors not only need to develop their pedagogy, but also need to continually expand their scholarship and cultivate their service to others. Both of these extend, support, and enhance instructional pedagogy. Scholarship empowers the professor to continue learning and growing in the field. It also stimulates learning about new ideas and topics that will further develop the richness of the professor’s practice. Service allows the professor to serve others in the university, community, and profession. This service connects the professor with peers in all facets of education.
Reflecting on this synergy of purpose, I have developed the model shown here. It represents a constant effort by me to make the three facets of the university professorship support each other and synergize. The constant meshing and aligning of these three pillars provides the depth and breadth needed by an effective university professor.
A
systems perspective brings together expected
behaviors within a given context, views them as a
synergistic whole and in effect results in a
“synergy of purpose.” I believe that a synergy of
purpose embodies and empowers university
professors. The Core of Academe, which consists of
teaching, scholarship, and service, reflects the
essence of my synergy of purpose. The components
are melded together to enrich all facets of the
learning community and provide the ”true north” of
my professional compass.