We are pleased to share that a group of doctorate students published a book with the support of Dr. Leonora Foels and Dr. A. Nicole Pfannenstiel called Becoming Reflective Educators: Perspectives from Social Work Scholar-Practitioners.
In this course, students were tasked with authoring their own
chapters and peer-reviewing submitted chapters.
They start by introducing key theories of graduate pedagogy and outlining the design of the course. In later chapters, students offer reflections on their personal and academic growth throughout the experience.
Becoming Reflective Educators: Perspectives from Social Work Scholar-Practitioners highlights how writing, as a process, benefits from reflection, practice, reading, and clear goals. It describes a doctoral- level social work course that extended peer-to- peer support beyond the classroom, modeling the collaborative and mentoring relationships common among faculty and scholars.
Drawing on the pedagogical approaches of Dr. Foels and Dr. Pfannenstiel, this course created opportunities for students to pursue graduate-level skill development such as publishing research, engaging in the peer review process, and preparing manuscripts.
Following the book’s publication, a few of the doctoral students who authored Becoming Reflective Educators: Perspectives from Social Work Scholar-Practitioners reflected on the experience.
“It was wonderful to see my work published, and as a well-trained doctoral student I immediately started editing it again.” ~ Jordan Henning
“Popped it straight into my CV. Practical, relevant,
useful, and appreciated.” ~ Deborah DiGennaro
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our shared efforts take form in publication. It’s a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and perseverance of the whole cohort!” ~ Kelly Goff
“Feeling proud of myself for this work was one thing. Seeing how excited my family and friends were made it even more special.” ~ Emily Drueding
“I didn’t expect to feel so much inspiration after seeing my name, authoring a chapter, in a published book! Now I have the confidence and ambition to consider academic writing as a possibility, not a
pipe dream.” ~ Kayla Weiler
“From one day to today! There was a time when I believed seeing my work published belonged to the distant future. Today, that moment is here. My chapter represents more than just a reflection, it’s a milestone that fills me with confidence, ambition, and deep gratitude for every step of the journey.” ~ Jayda Fields
“When passionate minds come together, transformation begins. Becoming Reflective Educators is more than a book… it’s a movement toward inspired, intentional teaching.” ~ Layna Smith
The book can be found in the two largest open educational resource (OER) repositories in the nation. We invite you to read the book and share it with other colleagues and friends through this short link: https://bit.ly/43CrodV.
Congratulations to these doctoral students on their publication!