At the end of the day, learning is about seeing and experiencing life in new ways.
Learners and their efforts are not just numbers in a system.
They are also human beings with passion, courage, and brilliance. We all have something to contribute to the world and my job, as a trainer, is to help make that happen.
Teaching and Training Philosophy
As this website lists at the very top of the page, my name is Rachel Gibbs. I am a working professional in the graphic design industry with years of experience in design for academic environments. As a design and communication coordinator for the University of West Florida (UWF), my professional experience revolves around four main roles:
A graphic designer who solves complex problems with innovative creations.
An illustrator who takes small ideas and turns them into living works of wonder.
A communicator that deeply values connections that are simple and authentic.
A trainer who appreciates effective leadership, team management, peer-to-peer support, and honest guidance.
As a graphic designer and illustrator, I am the design lead who guides a team of talented designers with the visuals of marketing materials for the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs (DAESA). Not only does this mean I assist with maintaining the University and DAESA’s brand identity, but I also bring in innovative approaches to visual communication that serve the University’s students, faculty, and staff.
As a trainer, I offer valuable industry practices to DAESA through workshops and training. Trainings typically involve discussions on effective communication channels, strategic approaches to marketing, and inclusive designs on legibility and readability. Outside of the division, I also have experience teaching a class session with three graduate-level communication students on high-impact learning. In teaching. I provide a lesson on the idea of trust within group projects through a short lecture, interactive activities, and an eye-catching audio-visual presentation.
If ever curious about my classroom teaching experience, scroll down for a summary of a recent opportunity!
What is Education to Me?
As a graduate student at the University of West Florida’s Master’s in Strategic Communication and Leadership program, I understand the life-changing impact of a great teacher. To go beyond lectures by investing in transformative experiences brings a unique quality to learning. This can include having interactive activities, eye-catching presentations, and opportunities for in-depth discussions. Great teachers also invest in their learners by fostering genuine connections that care about their future. Their care not only revolves around what lessons learners gain but also how they learn throughout their lives beyond the classroom.
Even in training, trainers and educators need to view education in the same way as great teachers. Educators should be creating an environment that makes learning fun, exciting, and impactful. They should also be investing in the relationship learners have with the act of learning. Education is not just about memorization; it is about how we learn and interact with new information every day. We harness knowledge by opening our minds, challenging ideas, and implementing new perspectives into our daily lives. With education comes new ways to experience life like never before.
As a professional, I believe…
Trust is the magical bond that not only keeps teams together but also encourages collaboration, growth, and quality work. For trust to exist, it is vital for every team member to be invested in their work and their relationship with each other. Be kind, caring, and tough together.
Learning is not a competition even if everything says otherwise. It’s easy to compare ourselves with others and find flaws in the skills we’re missing. Rather than tearing ourselves apart, let’s focus on what we’re able to offer. Don’t forget to ask for help where we need support.
Work can also be fun, exciting, and motivating. Taking work seriously is important when risks are involved, but not every one of them needs to be that way. Sprinkling in some playful fun can bring the right amount of creativity for innovative solutions. When work has to be done, let’s make it enjoyable.
I will not do or allow the following:
In my practice, I am committed to:
I do not condone any form of embarrassment, ridicule, or “sass” that can hurt others.
I will not allow superiority to influence genuine interactions for the sake of instilling hierarchy.
I will not disregard mental health. Life is not just about work, it’s also about taking time to care
for oneself and enjoying it.
Fostering curiosity.
Exploring creativity.
Maintaining authenticity.
Expanding perspectives.
Taking responsibility.
Enjoying life.
As learners, we must:
Try to have an open mind. We never know what we can learn from one another until we take time to talk and listen to each other.
Critically analyze and engage with information. Ask questions, even if it seems silly, to dig deeper into ideas that challenge how we see the world.
Participate. Contribute to discussions, take part in activities, and come prepared to learn.
Become comfortable with failing. It’s ok to feel hurt when things don’t work out but don’t let it be the end of our efforts. We can always learn from our
mistakes and try again. Don’t forget to offer support and guidance when possible as they can make the biggest impact in transforming a negative moment into a great learning opportunity.
Classroom Teaching Experience
A Collaborative Session By Rachel Gibbs, Kenny Porter, Kellie Sparks, and Sandra Taylor
Overview
In early spring of 2024, I teamed up with three University of West Florida graduate students to design and facilitate a two hour classroom learning experience.
Our team developed a night full of bite-sized lectures, interactive activities and an engaging presentation for students of a graduate-level communication training course to enjoy.
Training Topic and Learning Objectives
Based on existing studies and professional recommendations on high-impact learning, our team developed an experience that consisted of four learning objectives:
Apply key characteristics of the best college teachers to a teaching/instructing scenario.
Design an effective assessment tool by implementing three basic elements of rubric design.
Develop cohesive learning teams.
Demonstrate the ability to create positive team norms.
Learning Elements and Deliverables:
As the lead instructor of objective three, my focus was to develop a cohesive learning team through lessons shared by experts on effective group work.
The lecture and audiovisual presentation consisted of:
An overview of Larry Michaelson’s Four Essential Principles of Team-Based Learning
The idea of trust within a group setting
Types of trust that exist in a professional team
Following the lecture was a trust-building exercise where students were encouraged to think and talk about how they worked with their team members in intense situations.
Assessment, Feedback and Takeaways:
Students demonstrated their achievement of each learning objective through their ability to deconstruct complex concepts and apply them to real world scenarios during discussions.
Other notable feedback mentions included:
84.6% of students in class rated the learning experience as excellent.
Students expressed gratitude toward the fun and interactive approach to learning.
As an educator, this teaching experience taught me the importance of a simple and direct learning objective to effectively plan during time constraints.
I’ve also learned that educators often need to speak louder than what they may be used to when in front of an audience.