Instructional Experience
LIBRARIANAs a Library Assistant at the Boca Raton Public Library, I offered reference-related and technical instruction to patrons. While staffing the information desk, I helped patrons find the materials they were looking for and taught patrons how to use the catalog and other electronic sources to find what they were looking for. I also taught patrons to use the Internet, email, and word processing programs.
SOCIAL WORKERAs a psychotherapist, my job was to help my clients learn better coping skills and to change the way they see themselves and those around them. I started my career working with adults with moderate to severe mental illness in my residency at Henderson Mental Health Center. Much of the work I did was questioning my clients about why they made the choices they did and helping them to see other options in their life. I learned not to just give them the answers to their problems or to give advice, but to help the clients explore their own thoughts and learn better coping skills. Much of teaching is not showing someone how to do something, but to guide them as they explore, make mistakes, and try to learn.
In my work with children, I found that development of rapport was often the most important part of my job. As many of my clients were at a far lower reading level than their age would indicate, I spent a lot of time developing rapport by helping teach them to read or to improve their reading skills. With children too, I found that most of the time simple questioning and gentle encouragement were what was needed in helping them learn better coping skills.
My work with parents allowed me to take a more overly instructional role. I taught parenting skills to the parents of my client families using the 1-2-3 Magic method. I instructed them on the basics of the program, did role playing activities, and answered any questions they had about the program. I checked back with the families weekly and provided further instruction and support for each family.
In addition to my work as a psychotherapist, I also supervised and instructed two social work interns. I took them to sessions with my clients, taught them practical rapport-building skills, and allowed them to practice their skills with my client families.
VOLUNTEERI have taken on instructional roles in my volunteer work with children. At Oddfellows Playhouse, a community theater program, I worked with young people from ages 7 to 13. I helped to teach improvisation and activities that encouraged teamwork and good social skills. In addition I directed a group of young people in a production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I volunteered with an Americorp program in Middletown, Connecticut where I tutored low-income children after school. I also worked with handicapped children on arts and crafts activities during the Special Olympics events in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It was in these volunteer roles that I first learned rapport-building and instructional skills.
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