TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Over the course of my 11-year career in higher education, my teaching interests, philosophy, and resulting pedagogical style have evolved to encompass the changing learning atmosphere. It is also a culmination of my experiences teaching students ranging from kindergarten to undergraduates.
I recognize that there are several ways to acquire and process information in learning situations. Each student learns in a different way and this therefore leads to a classroom with students of different learning capabilities. My aim is to always incorporate multi-sensory techniques during instruction. I use a combination of power points with vivid imagery, relevant videos, and lecture to address the different senses individuals use to understand a concept. I also include group activities for hands-on connection to terms and concepts as well as the chance to learn from their peers. In addition, my excitement for science can be felt not only through my lectures, but also through my presentation. Before teaching a course, I actively practice lectures so that I can present in a way that I can fully engage my students and keep their interests so that they will want to know more about a subject past the time that the lecture ends.
As a professor, I want to introduce and promote an understanding of the basic principles of biology. I look to the students to demonstrate the practical applications for their knowledge of the basics. Next, I provide and promote a forum for questions and conceptual integration and introduce research techniques so they are able to effectively find information when they either do not know the answer or how to use this information properly. In the end, projects I design are about manipulating information, synthesizing knowledge, and sharing that information with others.
I also believe that consistent interaction with students encourages scholarship inside and outside of the classroom. During my tenure as Assistant Professor at Broward College’s South Campus, I created and collaborated on several seminars and luncheons that were always well-attended by the student community. Some examples include the Annual Science Luncheon; Cobwebs, Coffins and Creatures of the Night: Halloween and the story of the Viruses of Fright; and most recently the Meet My Professor series while I was the Interim Associate Dean for the Science and Wellness department.
To summarize, my teaching goals are to be enthusiastic and engaging to my students, to promote critical thinking and questions, and to present material in a fashion that should maximize student interest. I want my students to be ready and willing to discover things themselves or see new patterns and make connections. As I continue to hone my teaching skills, I know that I still have much to learn and I will strive to improve my effectiveness as a teacher.
