My teaching philosophy fosters meaningful connections through social networking and guides students step-by-step from foundational concepts to complex applications. My methods are grounded in ideas from Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development and Sociocultural Theory, Roediger and Karpicke's Testing Effect, and Bruner's scaffolding. My approach to teaching emphasizes social interaction, dialogue, and structured learning support.
Active Engagement and Collaborative Learning
I employ active learning strategies, particularly focused on discourse. During class, I pose numerous questions and then allow time for discussion before randomly selecting a student to share their insights and solutions. In that moment, everyone gets a chance to practice concept expression. The pause maximizes participation, encourages concept reflection, and eases the anxiety of unexpected participation.
I employ several methods to build connections to support collaboration. First, quizzes and exams draw randomly from a limited bank of questions. Limited exposure on quizzes motivates students to collaborate for complete exam banks. Next, after tests, students must move to a different row, encouraging new connections and perspectives. I also create an online Excel sheet with students' names, email addresses, and optional additional contact information to ease out-of-class collaboration. The sheet includes recommended groups for each problem set, motivating an excuse to connect. Lastly, I distribute 6"x18" nameplate tents with names on both sides before every class. I agree with Dale Carnegie that recognizing individuals by name fosters stronger interpersonal connections.
Frequent Assessment and Feedback
Regular assessments are central to my teaching. Every class includes quizzes comprising multiple-choice and numerical questions. I give students advance notice of topics and permit handwritten notes during quizzes. I assign problem sets with up to 30 numerical questions outside of class for each exam cycle. Exams contain quiz questions and reworded problem set questions. The cumulative final covers all previous material. Assessment scores are immediately available because immediate feedback reinforces learning. My structure elevates long-term retention through repetition.
Comprehensive Resource Development
I offer detailed presentations aligned with textbook chapters and curated videos for diverse learning needs. I also hold recorded online office hours, making private instruction accessible.
Professional Development and Application
Every semester, I start with a lecture on professional development. I include assignments on creating LinkedIn profiles and collaborative projects that mirror real-world scenarios. I underscore the relevance of course content beyond the classroom through interviewing industry professionals, storytelling, classroom discussions, and posing hypothetical scenarios to solve.
Inclusive and Supportive
A supportive atmosphere is crucial. I present the rules of respectful discourse, emphasizing that professional debate should never include personal information, positive or negative. I further encourage the contemplation of diverse perspectives, which prevents costly blinders. Additionally, the networking tools I employ facilitate community creation, mitigating most issues.
By blending theory-driven methods with real-world applications, I strive to cultivate critical thinkers equipped to excel in both academic and professional arenas. I commit to fostering intellectually rigorous and inclusive learning environments that prepare students for leadership in their fields.