TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
There are many different ways for faculty to approach teaching. Methods
used in the classroom should correspond to the faculty member's teaching
(learning)
philosophy. My teaching philosophy encompasses three basic principles - that
teaching (learning) must be active, it must encourage group effectiveness, and it should provide students with resources and tools for learning
independently.
ACTIVE LEARNING
To be effective, learning must occur actively, rather than passively. It is the
instructor's responsibility to provide opportunities and assignments which promote active
learning. It is the student's responsibility to "practice", using these opportunities in the same way as one would "practice" an instrumental
piece, a basketball shot, or cooking a favorite dish.
GROUP EFFECTIVENESS
"The whole is better than the parts." A number of individuals who work
separately to paste together a policy is not operating as an effective committee. Group
work, group think, require all members to work together, building on each other's ideas
and thoughts and learning from one another. As part of the requirements for this class you
will be assigned to a committee which will have normal committee responsibilities.
INDEPENDENT LEARNING
Learning continues long after students graduate from college and begin their careers.
Learning becomes independent. Professionals no longer rely just on classroom experiences.
They look to journals, to the internet, to the experiences of other professionals, to
texts, to newspapers. As an instructor, it is important for me to provide guidance and
encouragement to students as they transition from classroom-based lecture instruction to
independent
learning.
