College of Arts and Science
Education
2006 - Master of Arts - Stony Brook University
About Jill Mountain
Jill Mountain was born and grew up in rural New Hampshire. A returning student, she left a career in public relations when she was in her thirties and earned both a B.A. and M.A. in English from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York so that she could pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.
Jill currently lives on Long Island, New York where she teaches eighth grade English at a small public school. She shares her world with her husband, Lewis, who retired from a long career in business two years ago, and their two college-student sons, Michael and William.
How has facilitating online courses at GCU helped you find your purpose?
When I returned to school to complete my degree, it seemed the academic environment was not very hospitable to an older student with the responsibilities of work, family, and adult life. I love being able to "make that right" by providing a supportive and helpful learning environment for students of all ages and backgrounds. I really enjoy the small role I play in making a college education a practical possibility for all students.
What is one effective teaching strategy you use in your online classes?
Since I generally teach writing classes, I think it is very important that students leave my class feeling confident about their ability to communicate their ideas clearly and find the information they need to be successful. To get to that place, I have worked on creating lists of FAQs for most assignments. Every Friday, I send out an email to all students with those FAQs. Some are tips on how to compare their writing to the rubrics. Sometimes, I include directions to the style guide, or instructions on how to complete a successful internet search. I have found students appreciate being able to do something on their own, and they are more confident when they can review my tips and see they are on the right track.
What is one GCU online student success story you can share?
One of my favorite stories is about a woman who was in her early 50s. She had several children and grandchildren, and she worked full time in a poultry processing plant. In our phone conversations she told me that her daughters discouraged her from going back to school, and they often suggested that her time would be better spent babysitting. This student was not very confident about her work, and feared that she would not succeed. Her work early in the class was tentative, and she often apologized for what she had submitted. As she progressed through the class, however, she began to experience success and see that her ideas resonated with her classmates. I think it was of tremendous value to her personally and academically to read the positive feedback of her classmates, and see her success in terms of her grades. I like to think she left the class more confident than when she started, and that she went on to earn her degree and move into a more rewarding career.
