Teaching Philosophy (Revisited)

While reading through the three philosophies assigned to me it became very clear we all have a passion for teaching. But not only teaching, teaching in a way that promotes each student's individual growth. This is the most important aspect of our philosophies and what I feel will set our generation of teachers apart from the generation that taught us. A new focus and understanding of what the needs are in the classroom and how to address them will hopefully give us the tools to revolutionize the academic world.

Within my own philosophy I would now try to add more imaginative ways to better assess each student. Reading through the philosophies of others, especially other disciplines, has shown me new and interesting approaches. I look forward to gaining even more insight into the experiences of others as the semester progresses and creating a revamped teaching philosophy.

What is Learning (Revisited)

The definition I chose and the explanation of my personal understanding of what learning is and involves, was reinforced by our reading and discussion. Focusing on learning as a process was a focus of the reading and the main focus of my definition. It's important to remember and reinforce the many steps and often overlooked aspects of learning, assimilation, and transference. Without being aware and constantly and consistently challenging the students to learn and use that knowledge, we are not being as effective as possible.

Learning

Learning (noun), as defined by Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary is,

"the activity or process of gaining knowledge or skill by studying,

practicing, being taught, or experiencing something."

While the definition above is fairly basic I feel it encompasses my personal understanding of the noun. With that said learning, I have found, is a verb and something in which you must be actively engaged and participating. The scientific community functions only because we view learning as a verb and strive to learn through every means possible. Whether it involves success, failure, or something in-between, striving to gain knowledge in the form of facts, experiences, theories, etc. is a life long pursuit.

What I've stated above is currently my best description of learning and I know it will change. That acknowledgement of the inevitable evolution of ideas is also a necessary aspect of learning. Without pursuing a more complete understanding we would be doomed to continue with the same experiments and analyze the same data only to confirm what we already know. Instead, the pursuit of knowledge through imagination, experimentation, and constant restructuring of our limited understanding, is learning.

Teaching Philosophy - First Attempt

Teaching Philosophy – Edu/Bio 705

Goals For Student Learning

Within the field of biology there are many subdivisions which all seek to better understand their specific role in the known world and beyond. My specific goal for students is teach and guide them in a way that allows for assimilation and combination of learned material. This will allow them to not only learn and discover within their own educational experience and subsequent profession, but also enable them to learn outside the classroom. Combining disciplines and creating that “big picture” teaching format not contributes directly to success in the classroom but also success beyond it.

Enactment of Goals

Imparting this philosophy upon the students in a way that is encouraging and natural for them, while still being challenging, is the most difficult aspect. In our discipline understanding the natural world is virtually equal parts in-class vocabulary and real world experience. It is much easier, for most, to understand the contribution light makes to the success of a plant when you, for example, take a plant and set it in a dark room. That is why this teaching philosophy will focus on the incorporation of traditional teaching methods combined with group projects, oral presentations, and most importantly experimental design. The final aspect of this will allow students interact in an environment similar to what scientists in their field experience on a daily basis. Students will have the opportunity to interact with their peers on a topic of their choosing and succeed or fail in their attempts to complete the scientific process.

Assessment of Goals

Measuring student learning is a subject that can be addressed differently depending on the subject. Within this discipline the ability to analyze and interpret data shows your grasp of the material in front you. Students will be encouraged to have an on going and developing understanding of the subject matter. This understanding and development will be assessed in multiple ways. Exams, papers and journals will be used. The grading of these will focus on the material they are best equipped to measure. Exams will serve to measure the understanding of vocabulary and basic coarse structure. Papers will measure the student’s ability to think critically and form an intelligent response to a not so concrete or “black and white” topic. Finally, a journal of the class experience including group projects and experimental design and development will give the best insight into the student’s specific development throughout the class. These separate assessments all work together to encourage and evaluate the progression of students through the classroom experience and enable the instructor to identify specific strengths and weaknesses within a student. Knowledge that is invaluable when determining class direction and student progress evaluations.

Creating the Proper Learning Environment

Innumerable exterior influences are brought into the classroom on a daily basis. Recognizing this and accounting for it in the class structure will determine how class discussion, group projects, and even free time influence the attitudes within a teaching environment. While it is impossible to leave all racial, gender, class, etc. identities at the door. They can be made less prevalent by accepting the strengths of each diverse group. Recognizing and respecting specific traits in each student’s identity which uniquely contribute to the class dynamic has the potential to encourage each student individually. These diverse perspectives and individual strengths will undoubtedly be both positive and negative at various points throughout the class but the will mirror real life experiences. Beyond school, student’s peers will be an even more diverse group of individual perspectives. Group projects and class discussions will prepare them to deal with the world to come. Using multiple assessment, teaching, and discussion techniques will account for the diverse learning styles that are represented within the classroom. Also course structure can be manipulated in such a why that will encourage students develop their weaker traits and sharpen their already strong traits.

Teaching College Science

Within the required reading assignments there was a particular subject that touched on an aspect of teaching that can be easily overlooked by some, and entirely unavailable to others. I feel recommending tutoring and other resources that are better equipped to address the needs of specific students is often underutilized. The opportunity for students to learn an in environment that is specifically suited to their individual needs is virtually impossible to achieve in a standard class room setting. In my past experience not only as a student but as a teacher, five minutes of one on one time with a student can be more beneficial than hours of in-class lectures. With that said, I understand the challenges that surround tutoring or individual sessions.

Students can't be forced to participate in an activity that has a negative stigma surrounding it such tutoring. Also, often the resources for are simply not available, whether it's time, staff, financial constraints, etc. the limitations are endless. Fortunately we are developing new methods for addressing individuals in the classroom and beyond, but it is still up to the in class instructors to recognize and direct students to the appropriate resources.

The chapter addresses many very important issues in our current and ever changing education system. I can see that various points that are being made and definitely agree that personalizing education is the best way to set students up for success. It will give them the resources needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond.