Faculty Advisor Spotlight – Patricia Villareal Stelter, Northeast Lakeview College (TX)

Sometimes I like to think that I’m the best, most innovative, and awesome instructor, but there are so many brilliant educators out there that help me and keep me inspired.

Ever feel the same way Professor Patsy Stelter does?  New to the Faculty Advisor program, Stelter joined up to not only share with others what she’s doing, but to get feedback from faculty with different teaching perspectives to improve how she teaches her own courses.

Stelter is the lead developmental English instructor at Northeast Lakeview College.  She has taught all levels of developmental English over the years, starting off as an adjunct.  Since the beginning Stelter noticed, “all students are at different levels of learning, studying, and writing,” and finding software that appeals to everyone has been difficult.  Stelter now uses MyWritingLab to bring students at all levels together by accelerating students further behind in foundational skills and giving more advanced students the refresher they need to succeed.  She assigns homework from MyWritingLab catering to each student’s strengths.  Stelter finds MyWritingLab an imperative component of her course because, “it takes [her] place as the instructor” when students are working at home.

An increase in student success as seen through actual test score improvements from the beginning of the semester to the end has been the biggest accomplishment for users of MyWritingLab.  Test scores are tracked from the first pre-test to the final exit exam.

In addition to her positive experiences with MyWritingLab, Stelter also uses MyLiteratureLab as a “one-stop-shop” for students to collect pieces across the literary board to more thoroughly research their final papers.  For many of her students, MyLiteratureLab serves as a, “library, a tutor, a research guide, and a place that houses their writing samples and drafts.”  The application’s organization is its big feature for Stelter.  It helps even the most unorganized student and caters to all learning styles.

Being a Faculty Advisor allows Stelter to, “meet new instructors who believe in education as much as I do;” educators she can share her excitement with about Pearson and the products she uses.  Working with Pearson MyLabs first-hand, “makes the product come to life” for other faculty, says Stelter and she likes being a part of that.  Also, being a Faculty Advisor gives Stelter the extra perk of seeing, reviewing, and piloting new books and resources.  “It’s nice to know my feedback is helping the product become better for our students.  After all, they’re the reason why we’re in business.”

What inspires you each day as an educator?  How do you inspire your students to enjoy learning?