Introduction

The portfolio is a teaching strategy I don’t have much experience with.  I’ve never created one before as a course requirement or as a professional communicator tool.  Defined as “a dossier or collection of student work showcasing learning, achievement, and personal and professional development” (Stalter, 2024), a portfolio is becoming advantageous to have.  A living document, this can updated as new achievements or events occur.  It is a great way to create a one-stop shop, demonstrating one’s knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Three Lessons/Key Points

The beginning of the presentation shared that 98% of companies conduct background research of the applicants online and 80% find a personal website, e.g. e-portfolio, important.  LinkedIn has been dubbed the professional social media application and I honestly thought that would be enough.  However, there is a depth achieved through the portfolio that highlights and showcases the person’s talents and achievements.  Although one can maintain both, depending on the position, job, or situation, the portfolio is more communicative.

A key point from the presentation surrounds the teaching strategy the MHIA uses:  work-based learning experiences (WBLE).  This teaching strategy provides tangible, relevant work experience in one’s major.  With good placement, the student is able to apply their coursework in the real world, network with industry leaders, and cultivate their interests.  Humanities majors such as history, world cultural studies, and philosophy are specific concentrations and paid internships opportunity can be difficult to find.  Through the MHIA, students graduate with critical experience.

The final lesson learned from this presentation is the zero-credit internship one registers for as part of the program.  Some degree programs require an internship, an externship, or practicum experience to provide practical experiences to apply concepts from theory.  However, as a STEM major and clinical science, nursing programs require clinical hours in order to grasp the responsibilities of the professional nurse.  My doctoral program includes 10 credits of practicum courses, resulting in over $5,000 in tuition.  This investment in necessary because without it, faculty cannot validate competency and readiness.  Therefore, to get paid for this internship challenges the typical definition of an intern and great opportunity.

UNIV 068  Internship  (0 Credit Hours)  

Student participation in a professional work experience for which credit will not apply to the degree. Approval for enrollment is determined by Monarch Internship and Co-Op Office. Experience must be related to the student’s major or career area of interest, include adequate supervision by a professional, and include at least an average of 8 hours per week.

Unanswered Question or One Piece of Advice

I am curious to know the MHIA will open to graduate humanities majors.  The presentation listed numerous majors and concentrations, however, they were all for Bachelor of Arts or Science degrees.  With the evolving nature of the workplace, people are seeking graduate degrees to be competitive.  The university offers a graduate-level zero-credit internship course, so pieces are already in place to mirror the current program for the undergraduate students.  Graduate student internships can allow them to specialize or take deep dives into niche topics.  This investment in our students value-added and will only enhance their education.

GRAD 068  Graduate Internship  (0 Credit Hours)  

Student participation in a professional work experience for which credit will not apply to the degree. Approval for enrollment is determined by Monarch Internship and Co-Op Office. Experience must be related to the student’s major or career area of interest, include adequate supervision by a professional, and include at least an average of 8 hours per week.

Faculty Preparation

This event was informative and helped increase my understanding of opportunities across the university.  I am better equipped to discuss the MHIA and potentially pair a humanities student with an experience that can impact health care or nursing.  Examples include political and legal studies majors.  In current events and with the upcoming election, proposals about repealing the Affordable Care Act, restoring Roe v. Wade, etc., impact nurses and health care.  In order to deliver the care our patients need, we need our humanities counterparts to be knowledgeable in health care as well.

Date Attended:  Sep 24, 2024 as part of the Old Dominion University Center for Faculty Development’s “Day of Teaching”