Guru of the Month - Noel Meyers
 | Dr Noel MeyersSenior Lecturer |
Hi I'm Noel Meyers. I obtained a PhD in the area of rainforest ecology in 1998 - not bad for someone who left school in grade 10 vowing never to return. After my PhD, I undertook two post-docs with the CSIRO. Realising I could positively influence students' interest in learning, I decided that I wanted to help students learn as much as I wanted to do my research.
In September 1999, I became an Associate Lecturer in the QUT School of Natural Resource Sciences. In 2000 I began training for my second career - education. I enrolled in a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, followed this with a Masters of Education and am now working towards my Education Doctorate. The QUT student guild awarded me the Lecturer of the year prize in 2001 and Campus Lecturer of the year in 2001 and 2002. In 2002 I won the Pearson Uniserve award for making outstanding contributions to student learning. In 2003 the QUT Vice Chancellor awarded me the VC's Distinguished Teaching Award. In 2004 I was promoted to Senior Lecturer, won an Australian Award for University Teaching and most importantly married the woman of my dreams.
1. Why did you become an academic in the first place?
Profound, life-changing moments often occur at unusual times and in the most remarkable places. Mine was no different. In the fading alpine glow, I stood alone on New Zealand's highest mountain. Transfixed, I watched the rising crescent moon illuminate the glacier nearly two kilometres below. I had ascended the mountain as a scientist but descended with aspirations of becoming an educator. Twenty years ago, there was no thought in my mind to be a scientist. At 20, while recovering from surgery, I became fascinated with Antarctic Beech trees (Nothofagus moorei). I enrolled in night school to begin grade eleven for the first time. A PhD at the University of Queensland allowed me to pursue my interests in rainforest ecology and plant reproductive biology.
2. Is it still the same?
Yes and no. Yes, because I still work towards helping my students learn as effectively and efficiently as they can. No because I have developed a suite of skills that allow me to better help students to achieve the learning outcomes I design. I have come to realise that I invest my life aiming to make a difference to both science and education: at a personal level through mentoring my students and colleagues, and at a national and international level through professional development and committed actions.
3. Biggest mistake you've made in your career?
Leaving School in year 10 and staying away from starting year 11 for seven years. My decision took from me the capacity to work with students over that time.
4. The big thing you got right?
Always thinking about how I could apply what I learned or saw in any area of my life to help my students learn more effectively. Becoming very reflective about my teaching and constantly seeking feedback from my students as I worked towards becoming a better teacher. Undertaking my educational studies allowed me to develop a better understanding of, and consequent capacity to implement, learning environments.
5. PowerPoint or OHP?
PowerPoint and OHT's represent communication technologies. They do not represent learning tools. I use one, both, or neither depending on the situation and the message that I am encouraging my students to engage with. Increasingly though, I am using these presentation tools less and aiming for more student engagement in the classroom. Tom Angelo's book on Classroom assessment is a wonderful source of ideas.
6. Best advice you ever received?
"To give more of yourself than anyone else has any right to expect from you" from my long time friend, mountaineering buddy and best man at my wedding - Steve Archer.
7. Worst advice you ever received?
When Shirley Alexander had just started work as a lecturer a senior academic told her that she should only do the things that would help her to address the criteria for promotion. Shirley rejected the advice, preferring to invest her energies in the things she enjoyed and thought made a worthwhile contribution. I too rejected similar advice.
8. Biggest challenge you've overcome?
Maybe overcoming others' expectations that an Associate Lecturer (at the time) could not develop a Faculty spanning learning and teaching grant application. Persistence and not taking "no" for an answer also helped.
9. What advice would you give to new academics?
Learn to say no more often while not accepting no for an answer on something you know has to be done to benefit student learning or your research. Encourage your co-learners to concentrate on learning. Adopt a mentor to assist you in leap frogging the mistakes we commonly make as early career academics. Plan your work with an outcomes-based focus. Try to ensure you have some work and life balance.
10. What quote inspires you as an academic?
"Some people see a thing and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?"
My best wishes on each of your journeys towards understanding and helping your students to forge the future they will inherit. Good luck to each of you in your own travels.
Cheers, Noel