Nancy Crowson has been a Massage Therapy instructor at Carrington College’s Boise campus since September of 2023, after many years of working in massage therapy and teaching it elsewhere. She was nominated for the faculty spotlight by fellow instructor, Holly Pearl.
“Nancy Crowson’s innovative teaching approach has transformed our classrooms into an engaging and dynamic learning environment,” Holly says. “The most recent highlight is an Escape Room game she introduced to her students. This interactive experience combines teamwork, problem-solving, and course material into an exciting challenge. Students collaborate to solve puzzles and complete tasks, all tied to the subject matter they’re studying. The catch? They’re racing against the clock! The Escape Room has quickly become a student favorite, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and the application of anatomical knowledge in a fun, high-energy setting.”
The Escape Room—and other interactive learning games created by Nancy—have truly helped her students master the material.
“Nancy’s creative ideas, dedication to active learning, and forward-thinking mindset have made such a lasting impact,” says Holly. “I always look forward to seeing what the next innovative way to learn will be in her classroom.”
What did you do prior to teaching?
I’ve been in the massage therapy business for twenty-nine years and have been a massage therapist for most of that time. I helped open a spa in Boise, including hiring therapists for that business. I have also been a musician for the last forty-five years; I study, perform, and teach both in Minnesota and Idaho. I currently perform around the valley.
Can you share a bit about your career path, and how it led to teaching?
While being a massage therapist has always been rewarding, I realized eight years ago that I have a wealth of knowledge to share with students—and I could give my body rest!
I began teaching at another school in the valley and really was able to “cut my teeth” with all the different courses. After six years there, I moved to a steadier job with the possibility of getting benefits.
I have so many interesting stories to share with students about the “real world” of massage—its clientele, businesses, and what it’s like to be self-employed. I let them know what can and has happened, how to embrace some of it, and how to be proactive in making their career and place of work rewarding.
What made you want to become a teacher? Were you inspired by anyone or anything?
As I mentioned, I wanted to share my knowledge with people interested in entering the field. Firsthand knowledge is as important as anything they can learn from a textbook. My instructor, Jim Weathers, was a phenomenal instructor, massage therapist, and human. His teaching and passion for massage therapy made me want to eventually share with other people what I learned.
What do you like most about teaching, and what do you find most challenging?
I really like meeting all the students and finding out why they chose this career path. I so appreciate the fact that they are all ages, and from all walks of life.
It’s sometimes challenging to get information across in ways that each student will understand or respond to. Everybody learns in a different way (tactile, auditory, visual, sensory), so at the beginning of each term, I ask them to fill out a form to help me know what type of learning suits them best.
Can you please share more about the innovative teaching methods/learning games you’ve helped create for your students?
Lectures can be so dry, and it’s hard to sit for two hours and pay attention— especially at 8:00 a.m.! So, I wanted to create some fun games they could play to help them learn the week’s material and have fun, hands-on learning at the same time.
Some of the games I have brought to my class include:
Jeopardy: Like the TV game show, I use a Jeopardy template and put the quiz questions as the answers and the prompts as questions. The class is divided into two or three teams and choose from the five categories listed. If they answer the prompt correctly, their team gains those points assigned to the prompt and continues to proceed through the board. Another team can beat them to the answer and take the board from them at any time.
Bingo: Either online or printed cards have the answers to the questions posed to them that are on their quizzes.
Escape Room: I use Escape Room templates I find online that coincide with the week’s lesson. I then make clues and hide them throughout the classroom. Each team needs to read the clues and answer the questions correctly to move to the next clue(s). I put Escape Room music and videos on the TVs in the room to help with the atmosphere.
Muscle Mapping: The students choose different muscles I have written out, with instructions of what to draw. They have drawn these muscles on each other with washable markers and labeled the action, insertion and origin. They also draw life-size body areas where these muscles are on paper.
Do you have any advice for massage therapy students, or for those interested in teaching?
If you ask any of my students what I repeatedly remind them of, it’s proper body mechanics. If they want a long career in this field, they have to learn how to use their body to their fullest advantage and avoid injuries. Pace yourself. Don’t overwork yourself for anyone! Give yourself grace and time for self-care on a regular basis. Learn to negotiate contracts so you aren’t taken advantage of. Business and ethics are a huge part of what I teach. By the end of their schooling, they will have a complete business plan they made for themselves.
As a new teacher, take time to listen to what your students are looking for in how they learn and how they enjoy learning. Practice your lessons and lectures at home, in your car, etc. so you don’t come off as stuffy. We are dealing with all the body parts and functions. Sometimes it can turn into a junior high classroom with some laughing! Have a sense of humor and admit when you aren’t sure about something. It is so wonderful to gain knowledge from the students you are teaching! Have fun!
