Know Your Profs is an ongoing series of articles helping you get to know the instructors at Camosun College a bit better. Every issue we ask a different instructor the same 10 questions. Got someone you want to see interviewed? Email editor@nexusnewspaper.com and we’ll get on it.
This time around we caught up with accounting instructor and department chair Keri Norrie and talked with her about making a connection with students, cheating, and texting during class (spoiler: don’t do it).
1: What do you teach and how long have you been a teacher at Camosun?
I’ve enjoyed teaching at Camosun for over 15 years. As a professional accountant and businessperson, I have taught a variety of business courses at Camosun, with an emphasis on teaching third and fourth year financial accounting. For the last few years, I have also enjoyed teaching introductory accounting as part of Camosun’s successful dual credit program with local secondary schools; it is an excellent program that helps high-school students transition to postsecondary while earning both high school and Camosun credits.
2: What do you personally get out of teaching?
Definitely the connection with students and helping them succeed in learning and achieving their goals. Many of the students that I taught over the years are still in touch with me and I love to hear from them. My life is much richer as a result of being a teacher.
3: What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you?
For me, lifelong learning isn’t just a motto but a way of life. Keeping an open mind, expanding your comfort zone, challenging yourself, and always looking to learn more have been important factors to my professional and personal success. It’s one of the reasons why, in class, I focus on developing critical thinking and research skills, as they are so important to the students’ future success.
4: What’s one thing you wish they didn’t know about you?
I am known for being a straight shooter, someone who is honest and forthright, but at times I wish I had more of a poker face, especially when my class is asking about hints for an upcoming exam.
5: What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
That’s a tough question as I truly have “best” moments every day. It’s the daily connection with students and my colleagues that makes being a teacher at Camosun so rewarding.
6: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
As a teacher, and now the chair of my department, the worst thing is dealing with issues of plagiarism and cheating. We expect integrity and professionalism from our students, so in addition to violating Camosun’s policies, it is personally disheartening when it occurs. On the positive side, after meeting with the students, these instances can sometimes be good life lessons, which hopefully helps them make better choices in the future.
7: What do you see in the future of postsecondary education?
I think the most memorable and effective courses are a collaboration between the teacher and the students; while the syllabus outlines what will be covered, it is the dynamics in the classroom that make it great. So while I see online courses, for instance, continuing to grow in popularity, I think that there will always be a need for the connection that occurs in a real classroom.
To help achieve the best of both options, in the accounting department we will be offering more courses in what we call a “virtual classroom” format. These courses have scheduled online classes, just like a face-to-face class, but using webcams and microphones so that we have the face-to-face benefits of being in a class but with the flexibility of an online offering. The classes are also recorded so that students can review the class material again. I think we’ll see more of this type of class in the future.
8: What do you do to relax on the weekends?
I’m an avid jogger so I am often outside jogging with my dog, in any kind of weather.ĘI also love to read so I am happiest when I have a stack of books beside my bed and a full Kobo.
9: What’s your favourite meal?
I love to travel and I enjoy cooking and trying new foods so my most memorable meals usually occur in other countries, in local restaurants, from street vendors, or from interesting grocery stores. When I’m at home, my favourite food is my husband’s homemade pizza. A close second would be anything made by Gilbert Noussitou, the chair of the culinary arts program at Camosun. My department hosts various accounting events during the year in which we invite the local business community and Gilbert and his team never fail to impress.
10: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Students texting during class. It’s fine at the breaks but not during class. Fortunately, it doesn’t occur very often in my classes.