NUR AZAM ANUARUL PERAI

Azman Hashim International Business School

I was trained in economics but decided to pursue a doctorate in sociology because I wanted to enrich my knowledge in the science of economic resource allocation and decision making, with the knowledge of societal decision making based on their socio-economic and personal characteristics. As an economic sociologist, I study the relationship between society and the market, government and the third sector. As a teacher, I aim to share the theoretical and practical knowledge that will enable students to understand the concepts of economics and sociology, be aware of the societal elements in economic decision making and hopefully with this knowledge will enable them to become agents of positive change in society.

Learning is a lifelong process where we learn something new every day, hence, it is important to remain humble. I believe learning is a two-way process where both the teacher and students learn from each other. We all come from differing backgrounds, with different experiences and worldviews. Sharing these differences will enrich everyone’s knowledge and outlook. Mutual respect is important, in the learning environment, everyone should be treated as equals. On the isrst dayof class, I will explain the ground rules with respect to the expected behaviour in class, including my expectations of their academic work, honesty and timekeeping.

As a teacher, my role is to facilitate students’ acquisition of knowledge and skills that will lead to positive behaviourial changes through the ability to critically think, analyse, and rationalise. The goal is to ensure my students understand reasons why things happen the way it happens. To achieve this, I will encourage my students to master the subject from the historical, theoretical and practical aspects. This would provide them with a thorough understanding of the subject’s ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘who’, ‘when’ and ‘how’.

Knowledge is dynamic, it is always evolving and technology makes this process even faster. Therefore, learning is a lifelong process, it has to be continuous, especially for teachers. I have to make sure that I keep myself abreast of the latest developments in my field, as well as other related fields. In order for me to be a good teacher, I must first be a good, up-to-date learner.

My preferred teaching situation is one that is interactive. University is where students develop their thinking abilities, they must be encouraged to express their views. As a teacher, my role is to guide the thinking process, to make sure it is rational, based on facts, and not emotional. I have to guide them to approach any discussion in a critical but respectful manner. During this process, I must continuously remind myself to act professionally and set a good example for my students.

To achieve my teaching goals, I will use a range of pedagogical methods to enable my students to comprehend and appreciate the subject. I will rely primarily on lectures to teach but there will be question and answer sessions and group discussions, to encourage participation and interaction. I will also incorporate individual and group presentations on real world problems and solutions to ensure students are able to link theory with practice. Guest speakers will also be invited to provide alternative views of the subject. Case studies, news reports and academic commentaries are used as a way to develop students’ ability to find solutions to solve real world problems. I encourage my students to also be aware of social welfare and geopolitical issues as they do affect economic decision making.

Students have different traits; some may be vocal while others may prefer to express their thoughts on paper. There are also students who are visual, some are conceptual. These differences mean I have to be aware of the need to accommodate each type and promote inclusiveness so that no one will feel left behind. To achieve this, I must first get to know them, so a ‘get to know you’ questionnaire is distributed before the first class, asking them about their academic and professional backgrounds, their likes and dislikes and their aspirations and expectations from the course. This enables me to tailor my delivery to ensure inclusiveness.

Ultimately, I want my students to develop an informed and critical view of the world around us and be aware of crucial issues that affect our lives. I hope the experience gained in my class will encourage them to become agents of positive change for the betterment of society.