| Teaching Philosophy | Courses Taught | Samples |
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Teaching with Technology My interest in teaching with technology arose from a student's comment the first semester I lectured, stating that I used "power point and nothing else". I have an affinity for technology and html programming, and I decided to incorporate this to make my classes as interesting and interactive as possible. I believe that technology should be an aid to, but not a replacement for, the instructor. Material taught through technology cannot stand on its own without the interpretation or guidance of the instructor. When I play a video for students, for example, I always follow it up with a brief discussion with the students about it and how it relates to the topic they are currently being taught. Also, I have found that technology works best when it enhances the course material, but does not overwhelm it. Technology use, particularly when students have to use it on their own, can be slow, complicated, or it can fail. There should always be backup material to replace technology, and it should be used sparingly: the worst scenario would be students (or the instructor!) becoming so confused or overwhelmed by the technology itself that they don't focus on the content being presented. That said, technology offers enormous advantages to teaching. It can make the class more interesting and fun, illustrate content that would otherwise be unavailable, and it is often material that students can replicate and review outside the class. The next screens offers information about the courses I have taught. After that, I present concrete examples of how I have used technology in my classes. |