Reflecting for a Career Teaching Political Science

This book concludes with a call for self-reflection as the key characteristic of a great instructor. The chapter advises finding a balance between teaching and research, with a pursuit of the scholarship of teaching and learning as one pathway to doing that. It also explores the value of seeking feedback from a variety of sources, not just student evaluations of instruction which are subject to extensive bias and limited value as a guide to improving teaching. The chapter ends with advice for those seeking a career teaching political science at the college or university level, and tips for those who want to take their enhanced teaching skills elsewhere.