Edify: to instruct and improve.

The first semester of my two years at the Graduate School of Education is under way. The class Development of Ideas in Physical Science paired with being a teaching assistant for Physics for the Sciences is the main point of my current academic, career-oriented learning. The dozen or so of us in the 2010 contingent of the science education program are reviewing the physical phenomena we have known our whole lives and studied in depth for the later part of them. We are approaching the topics as a teacher would introduce them in a classroom, and simultaneously learning from our mistakes and successes in doing so as TAs.

The definition in the title of this post makes me want to use the word in a personal statement of my vision as an educator. (subject to change)

To be patient, confident and determined in edifying children and youth in their development of knowledge, wisdom, and virtue. To be humble and sincere in letting them do the same for me. To be systematic and trustworthy in collaborating with the rest of the local, regional and global education communities to propagate sustainable, effective practices.