Faculty Excellence at UMUC

Interviewer:

Please tell us about yourself—what made you decide to teach at UMUC? What kind of work do you do when you are not teaching at UMUC? Are there any life experiences that have influenced your teaching at UMUC? If so, please share one story.

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

I have always enjoyed teaching. I have been involved in education of one sort or the other for over 30 years. My primary motive for coming to UMUC is that I thought that online education was the wave of the future—and I wanted to be a part of that.

I had a very successful consulting business prior to 9/11. My primary area of expertise was Total Quality Management. After 9/11, I started to scale back and focus on teaching. Now, I still do some management consulting, focusing on the people side.

I already mentioned 9/11. My second motivation was and still is, my husband, Jim. He knows that I love teaching. After we got together in 1999 and married in 2004, he encouraged me to "do what you love," meaning teaching. With his support, I have been able to focus more on teaching.

Interviewer:

How would you describe your teaching style or philosophy? What experiences or person(s) have influenced your style or philosophy?

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

My teaching style is definitely "whole-brain" oriented. Whole-brain teaching incorporates elements of the four primary styles, "analytical, detailed, creative, and interpersonal." When we incorporate elements of these four styles it helps to maximize learning because you are using functions from both the left and the right brain. Left-brain learning is more conscious, sequential and detail oriented. Right-brain learning is more intuitive, creative and interpersonal. Research shows that learning is more effective when you include all of these elements. I think the person who first influenced my style was my math teacher in high school. He was a master teacher—tough, yet caring. My second and most profound was when I was introduced to "whole-brain" concepts by Ned Herrmann, the father of "whole-brain" technology.

Interviewer:

Please explain if you do something special or unique in your teaching and what made you develop this.

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

I think my "whole-brain" focus is definitely special. I strive to set up an environment to engender success. I try to make sure that students know exactly what is expected of them. I also believe that students need specific, timely feedback if they are to learn. I don't believe in "busy work." If I give an assignment, I believe that I need to read and evaluate it and give the student feedback on what they did well on, and more importantly, what they did not do well on—AND what they need to do to improve. I also think that my sense of humor and creativity are an asset.

Interviewer:

What do you think it is about your teaching style that appeals to students?

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

I get lots of feedback from students about my style. I do not have a "text" only environment. To the extent possible, I use short videos (some of which were done by students). I use puzzles, cross-words and "fun" extra credit activities to get them excited and involved. I use a lot of graphics. I provide lots of feedback. And, I think I am tough, but fair.

Interviewer:

Do you teach face-to-face, online, or both? Do you have a preference between teaching face-to-face and online? If so, please explain.

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

I teach both face-to-face and online classes. There are obvious differences between the two. I like both but for different reasons. In a face-to-face class, I really like the fact that I can interact instantly with the students. It is easier to provide feedback and know if I have communicated effectively. On the other hand, in an online environment, I am forced to think about what I post. I think my overall communication has actually improved because when I post something, I try to ensure that each of the four different styles will understand and interpret it correctly. Of course, with the online, I like the fact that I am not tied to a specific time and place. I generally check my classes at least once a day to see what is going on. In a face-to-face class, my interaction is primarily focused on the class meeting, although I do communicate by email when necessary.

Interviewer:

Please tell us about your chosen discipline-i.e., what made you interested in the area initially? What do you do to stay current in your discipline? What do you like best about teaching in your discipline?

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

I have over 30 years experience in education and in Total Quality Management (TQM). I have always gravitated toward the "human side" of things. Human Resources Management (HRMN) was a natural fit.

I belong to professional organizations such as the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). I have presented at local, state and national conferences. I also constantly peruse new books and the internet in management/HRMN to ensure that I am on the cutting edge.

The best thing about teaching in my discipline is knowing that I often make a difference. That is so important to me. It really makes my day when a student lets me know that they have been able to apply successfully what I have been teaching them.

Interviewer:

What is the most challenging to you in teaching in this area? What teaching strategy do you use when you encounter the challenge?

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

My greatest challenge is being able to reach the students in a way that they "get it." This is why my "whole-brain" approach is important. Some students can get it by simply reading the book. Others need to see examples and some need to "chat" about it with others. I use a number of different strategies—read the textbook and modules; analyze cases; provide specific examples; react to what other students post; provide "real life" experiences, and so forth.

Interviewer:

Are there any special challenges in teaching this subject matter online? If yes, please explain what could be done to meet the challenges.

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

This subject matter is definitely harder to teach online. There is often no one right answer. Students who are detail-oriented, or think sequentially rather than intuitively (which constitutes more than half, maybe 75% of them) sometimes have a hard time with this. They tend to stop and settle for the first thing that appears, rather than going for the big picture. It is also challenging to find and create good cases or examples and be able to discuss all the nuances. It definitely takes more time.

Interviewer:

What suggestion would you give to students who are interested in majoring or working in your discipline?

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

I think that HRMN is an exciting field. For the first time ever, it is getting the type of recognition and credibility that it deserves and needs in order for an organization to be successful. Students definitely need to be affiliated with at least one of the professional organizations, like SHRM. It would also help to attend/present at conferences. In their own organizations, they need to learn as much as possible about ALL aspects of the organization, not just their little area. Above all, they need to understand the value of being credible and being able to see the big picture.

Interviewer:

In your opinion, what makes UMUC the college of choice for students?

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

I really don't know that much about other colleges—things like tuition, curriculum, faculty, and so forth. I do think that our own reputation speaks for itself though.

Interviewer:

In your opinion, what makes UMUC the employer of choice for future faculty members?

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

I think that UMUC's reputation speaks for itself here as well.

Interviewer:

What suggestion would you give to new faculty who are interested in teaching in your discipline at UMUC?

Joan Cassidy-Huck:

Get information, get good and get going! This is some advice a mentor gave to me years ago as I was preparing to enter my doctoral program. By finding out as much information as possible about UMUC and the discipline, I think they will have a more rewarding opportunity. However, that is not enough. They need to get involved!