Shawn A. Harrel

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT SHAWN A. HARREL

I\'m a multi-talented digital media technology educator with a wide range of experiences in education, audio/video production, instrumental music, composition & arranging, and radio. I\'m proficient in instructional design and performance technology, having completed my Ed. D. instructional design and performance technology at Baker University. I aim to create innovatively designed learning experiences. I\'m an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Lindenwood University and a part-time announcer at KCUR 89.3 FM, NPR in Kansas City.My teaching philosophy is radically student-centered, focusing on personalized, competency-based, real-world learning. The focus on those three elements aligns with what we know about human motivation and engagement. In the book Drive, author Daniel Pink describes the innate human desire for “three nutrients: autonomy, mastery, and purpose.”When students have agency through personalized learning, they get the first “nutrient” of autonomy. In a personalized learning environment, the teacher is the mentor and expert, but the student sets individual goals and is encouraged to explore individual passions. Students are preparing for a rapidly changing workplace where this skill of personal learning and problem-solving will be what sets them apart from their peers and colleagues.The second element of my teaching practice is competency-based learning. Pink describes our desire “to [become] better and better at something that matters.” Focusing on course competencies puts learning at the forefront. It recognizes that not all students learn at the same speed in the same way, while providing this opportunity for improvement without fear of failure. Equity in teaching comes from helping students achieve success by providing each student with what they need when they need it.The final “nutrient” of human motivation and engagement comes from authentic, real-world experiences. These real-world experiences allow students to demonstrate “excellence to a larger purpose.” Real-world experiences also prepare students for future opportunities and build necessary soft skills. Ultimately, empathy drives my teaching decisions as I seek to understand the learning experience from the student’s point of view. Failure is an essential part of the learning process in a creative and collaborative classroom, and that is reflected in my teaching and assessment.I create a positive classroom environment where all learners have the opportunity for creativity, discovery, and critical thinking.