Scott Alan Smith, PhD
Professor and Assistant Dean for Research
Department of Health Care Sciences
School of Health Professions
UT Southwestern Medical Center
I have found that students work the hardest and progress the most when they realize that I, too, have a vested interest in their education. In other words, their success is my success and their failure is my failure.
In my experience, the key to effective and meaningful teaching is the formation of a partnership between educator and student that is most successful when based on trust. Trust from the student that the teacher is knowledgeable and prepared to facilitate learning. Trust from the teacher that the student wants to learn.
