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Komi Shah, BA, MA.
Stonecliffe College Online Faculty, Associate of Science in General Studies Courses
Komi Shah's educational philosophy can be summed up in one brief statement, "I treat each student as an individual and I approach each one differently, because I believe each student has a unique learning style." While that may sound simple in theory, in practice that sort of approach involves a lot of experience, dedication, empathy, analysis, as well as a mastery of a wide array of educational tools and methods. Throughout her career, Stonecliffe College Online, an academic division of Colorado Technical University, instructor Komi Shah has demonstrated that she is a top-notch educator. Despite many educational and professional achievements, according to Komi, "the most rewarding aspect of teaching for me is when I get those ‘ah-ha!' moments with students."
Komi's educational philosophy and approach to instructing comes from years of educational and professional experience. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Journalism and Advertising from Northern Illinois University. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from National-Louis University and currently working on an Education Doctorate in literacy education from Northern Illinois University. Komi has experience teaching in every level of education from pre-school to the college level. She has taught in both traditional and online settings and has also performed duties as a Senior Faculty Coordinator and an Admissions Advisor for a university. In addition to her professional experience in education, Komi also has experience working in strategic marketing, media planning, and media data management. She brings a wide array of skills and experience to students through Stonecliffe College Online.
Komi's approach to education can be traced back to her first experiences as a student. "I often reflect on my past experiences as a student. I still remember my first day of kindergarten. I remember how I felt as a student throughout every phase of my education. I know how it feels to try to learn something that is not my forte'. I approach instructing as an iterative learning process for me as well as for my students. In a sense I am a student too. I expect my students to use all the resources at their disposal and put in the all the effort needed to learn to the utmost of their abilities. At the same time, I feel it is my duty as an instructor to use every educational resource at my disposal and adjust my teaching style in order to be effective with every student I come in contact with. Education works both ways."
Stonecliffe College Online, according to Komi, provides all the educational tools she needs to excel as an instructor and provides the resources that her students need to excel in their course work. "Our Virtual Campus provides a wide array of visual and auditory resources that can be combined in the live sessions to reach both the visual and the verbal learners. Discussion can be facilitated in the live sessions through the chat features and instructors even have the option of allowing students verbal access through a microphone if a student has one. The online library offers links to research databases to supplement textbooks and other course materials. Most importantly, one-on-one interaction between instructors and students is enabled through email, instant messaging and phone. Overall, the Virtual Campus is a highly effective teaching and learning environment."
In addition to using all the educational methods and tools at her disposal, Komi has some very practical advice for both current and potential Stonecliffe College Online students. "I once had a student that came to me for some guidance. As a single working mother of two, she was struggling with juggling family, work, and her education. I pointed out that one of the few things she can take control of in her life is her education. I told her that if she focuses all her energy into herself and her education, earning a degree can help her bring order out of chaos by enabling her to overcome other obstacles in her life. I later received a short letter from her in which she thanked me for improvements in her life and I found that very rewarding. All of us have many responsibilities that can impede our performance and progress, but the work world is usually not as forgiving as the educational world. So, get in touch with your instructors because we are here to help. Communication is the key to a great learning experience and you have every opportunity for that through Stonecliffe College Online."
Komi instructs either English or Creating Academic and Professional Success courses, tutors in the Learning Center, and works as a full-time faculty member for Interdepartmental Programs for Colorado Tech Online. She enjoys learning more about educational development enough to make it a hobby. "In my spare time I work with children in their early learning years, observing their fine motor skills and studying how learning begins." Komi is also an avid reader and a writer of mainly fictional works. Almost everything Komi does may seem to relate to either teaching or learning, because that is her passion, but Komi sees things from another perspective. "While I believe that education is a 24/7 profession, I also believe in building learning around life, not life around learning. Online instructing fits into my lifestyle perfectly and it can fit into the lifestyles of working students just as well."
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