November 16, 2025 – Learning by Doing

This school year, I negotiated and was offered 10% time for research. Normally, my assignment would be 80% teaching and 20% service. This year, it’s 70% teaching, 20% service, and 10% research. Moreover, I did not have any classes to teach over the spring and summer intersessions. I scheduled my classes for the fall and winter terms. This year was also the first time over 7 years to have one term without teaching. Although having a term off from teaching is part of the collective agreement, it can be challenging when the program is year round.

Slowly but surely, my job assignments transitioned from a practicum oriented role to one that is focused on coursework. I was asked several times if I wanted to assume a different role (re: Senior Instructor), but I was somewhat insistent on keeping the title, Assistant Professor, full-time term faculty. The teaching time is the same for there is no expectation of research if I was a Senior Instructor. Admittedly, I did not know what I was asking for, but emerging into research took some time. So, research I’ve done so far has been done on the side of my desk.

Having a non-teaching term and 10% research time has been extremely helpful and beneficial. During the spring/summer term, I went to a conference in Toronto and took the time to work on a harmonized ethics application, submit a proposal to write a chapter, as well as work on several manuscripts or chapters for publication. Although this was my first time having both research time and a non-teaching term so that I could do research, I am learning by doing on how to manage my time, lead a research team, do an ethics application, and publish.

What I have learned is, I really do like going to conferences and presenting. It’s much like my dissertation and doctoral work. The strongest aspect of my doctorate program was my oral defence. I am also learning how to take the lead on writing and research, while learning experientially from others by talking to them, participating in working groups, or being a part of a research team. I’m going at my own pace, which I feel being a term faculty member has afforded me. I don’t have the pressure of tenure track and I am content with my work.

I even took a pause in writing this blog post to check in to my “ongoing CV” to record some of my recent work. I did not even realize how much I did not record. That’s not a good thing. It’s a good habit to record your accomplishments as you do them in anticipation of the annual professional activity report (PAR) and for some, tenure and promotion. As term faculty, I am considering applying for promotion to Associate Professor. I enjoy the teaching and I am enjoying the research. I am also happy to stick to Assistant Professor as well. All is good.

As I return back to blogging on my OpenETC WordPress site and updating a page or two, despite the fact that I do not have to have an exemplar of portfolio work for teacher candidates, I think it’s a good opportunity to reflect on my scholarship and professional activity moving forward alongside my other blog. I am really feeling satisfied with the challenges posed in doing research while loving my return back to teaching (and teaching about teaching). Letting go on what you think things should be and just learning has been my greatest lesson.

I feel very appreciative to the many mentors along my pedagogical journey in research. Each mentor offered something different, such as “be selfish” or “your research is your teaching” and there was so much more guidance, insight, and tips from so many during my SFU and UNBC days that has led me to a place where I never thought I would be. Honestly, being here and doing what I am doing is a dream. As a child, I had always knew that I wanted to be a “doctor” but not the medical kind. I had no idea how I would get here, but now, I am here.