Palomar College's Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teachina

The committee meets and chooses the finalists (4 full-time and 5 part-time) based on nominations, student evaluations, and each candidate's acceptance statement. The finalists are then interviewed by the committee. 

The award is presented to one part-time lecturer and to one  full-time faculty. The Distinguished Faculty Award Committee decides based on  the following criteria for the recipients of the award: 

Demonstrates subject matter expertise and currency.

Enthusiastic about the subject matter and about teaching in general.

Effective utilization of a variety of teaching techniques.

Clear and effective communication of course material.

Willingness to meet with students outside of class and/or provides a means for students to receive assistance.

Respectful of all students.

Challenges, motivates, and encourages students to think independently.

Creates a strong desire in students to learn more about the subject matter.

Guides and mentors students in making successful life/career choices.

Organized and prepared in presenting classroom material and information.

Creates a safe learning environment where students feel comfortable so that they can ask questions, disagree with the instructor, or ask for further clarification.

Sets high standards for student learning.

Involved in the community beyond Palomar College.

The committee also bases the recipients based on these questions for the student survey that will be specific to the Distinguished Faculty Award. The questions are:

Shows interest in and enthusiasm for the subject.

Treats all students with respect.

Is willing to help when needed.

Reflects strong knowledge of the subject matter.

Presents material in a clear and well-organized manner.

Encourages participation, discussion, and questions.

Makes the class interesting for me, given the topic.

Goes beyond the textbook content to provide current relevance or deeper insights.

Challenges and encourages students to think independently.

Provides fair and understandable answers to students’ questions.

Presents the material in an engaging and challenging manner.

Uses a variety of teaching methods that take into account the diverse learning styles of students.

I feel like I am learning a lot in this course.

Considering the instructors I have had at Palomar College, I would rate this instructor as exceptional.

I agree - if everyone lived more in line with the philosophies of the East, the world would be a much less complicated
and dangerous place. In fact I think everyone should do martial arts!! It has done so much for me and the more I learn
about it and the philosophies (not religions) that influenced its development, the more I love it and the more I feel
it (martial arts) is my destiny...

I don't know whether you have noticed this too - since I moved to America I have been overwhelmed by the exclusive,
capitalistic and unthinking nature of the culture here. People are bombarded with information and products
that are designed to make them not think, not care, not work too hard, not eat correctly, not be aware of others.
I don't like to sound as if I don't like it here or that I think everyone here is an idiot, but I DO think America could do
with some world education (we could start with, "Hey guys, there ARE other countries in the world." )
You are making a difference with your web site so I can really respect that!... Peta 5/5/99

I agree with you, Peta. No country and no one is perfect, but those who come from a different culture
sometimes see what is missing in this country. This "something" is "felt" deep inside rather than "taught" in words.
If all people from this country get out of this country and backpack across the globe, across the villages
where children study under a small candle light at night, where children play the flute in the evening
to let the parents know where they are and tell them that they are safe playing the flute, and where women go up
the hill for water early morning for the day, then all our dreams will become one under the stars that are so
near, bright enough to guide us our way back home in the evening.

I traveled in Dali, China, Leh, Ladakh and Chitral of Alexander the Great, and some other countries.
In the village of Leh, my son, daughter and I experienced "Life and Death" sickness:
Yukio got thinner and thinner every day, could not eat at all. Height sickness, maybe. I said to myself every day
"He might die tomorrow." And I drank bad water and was hospitalized... The doctor told me to stay in bed
but there was nothing to eat at the hospital. I needed to go back to the guest house to eat, but
there was no vehicle available. I was too weak and too sick to go back but hitch-hiked to go home
to eat. -Fumiko 5/5/99

(as of now the number of countries visited has been increased ^_^2007. ft)

***********

Summer 1988

I crawled out of the bed
and went back "home"
to our guest house where we were staying.

All through the night
stars were falling
equally upon us
and upon the wounded young man.

Morning came, I came back to the hospital,
and I found his bed was empty.

and it made me cry so.
And yet we miss the summer so bad.

--fumiko tachibana

Leh, Ladakh
Chitral

the Kalash flute

By a brook
under the chestnut trees
in the Unbeliever's corner of Pakistan
we stop to listen
as a girl
mud-faced and beautiful
climbs the banks
and speaks to me with her flute.
Her head dressed
in shells
from Alexander's Greece
her eyes blue sky
she wants me to learn to play
and after a try I say I want the flute
old and nice
then you say nice and old
and smile

-Fumiko

*

Genuine goathair carpets
from Hindu Kush
woven by women
in the high bordertown of Chitral

*

The men keep watching me
and the night is cold
with trees on the slopes
showing off their roots.
We drive and drive
not knowing if we'll ever reach the refugees
tonight. And the yellow moon
is the only headlight
as I curl
in this Chitrali goathair carpet
tough in hunger and thirst
warm as a goat
and wishing I were a tourist again..

Fumiko Tachibana>

Fumiko's poems will be available soon... now the shared domain problem has been happening.

I will continue to make all the efforts to tell my students and say
"Hey guys, there ARE other countries in the world."
You got to get out of the country to see the world. I will take you to Japan because
I know it a little better than this country. I am not doing this because Japan is better, I am
doing this because you will know your country better.

Fumiko Tachibana

I still keep traveling ...