Cody Marie Busch

Cody Marie Busch, Ed.D., CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She teaches undergraduate, post-bac, and graduate level courses. Research interests include the use of simulated learning experiences in the classroom, interprofessional education (IPE), and acquired cognitive/linguistic disorders in the adult population.

TEACHING AND LEARNING PHILOSOPHY

As I gain more experience as an educator, my teaching philosophy continues to evolve. My foundational beliefs include engaging in self-reflection, creating meaningful learning experiences, and establishing relationships with my students. Every course I teach offers an opportunity for self-reflection. I systematically monitor performance and revisit for clarification, integrate new learning opportunities, and modify content based on student feedback. I am moving away from didactic instruction by incorporating meaningful learning opportunities that facilitate critical thinking and self-reflection for the “real world.” Experiential learning, which provides opportunities to apply academic content to real world experiences, offers tremendous value for learning and engaging with the content in a different way. One phrase that I use often during these learning experiences is, “This is a thinking task…not a knowing task.” Simulated learning experiences allow students to make mistakes in a low-risk environment and then engage in a rich discussion of what they might do differently next time. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I believe in establishing relationships with my students based on mutual respect. Respect is earned by being explicit with expectations, providing meaningful and timely feedback, and engaging with students with the mindset that they are my future colleagues. This type of accountability to each other helps create a partnership that relies on dependability, honesty, and “setting them up for success.”