Philosophy of Teaching Statement
Michele Costabile Doney
To develop a philosophy of teaching is to focus on my role as an educator and define what is important about it. I find that my role involves three principle activities:
1. To continually strive to develop a broad array of teaching skills and adjust them to meet the needs of my students.
2. To truly challenge my students and to evaluate them honestly and fairly.
3. To foster student mastery of course material while at the same time helping them to develop broader, more important skills such as communication and critical thinking.
To some extent, I have been able to develop my own teaching skills based on my experiences as a student. I remember the instructors I liked as an undergrad and the things about the classes they taught which made them positive learning experiences. Some types of lecturing styles made material interesting, while some put the whole class to sleep. Some alternatives to lectures, such as small-group discussions, labs, and question-and-answer sessions, worked well; others flopped. Some types of exams really tested how much I'd learned; others simply seemed to test how fast I could write or how adept I was at spotting trickery. Some assignments reinforced my understanding of material or allowed me to explore parts of it in greater depth; others seemed of little value. From all of these things, I learned what makes for a positive, beneficial learning experience, and I strive to incorporate these things into the development of my own teaching style.
I am mindful, however, that not all students learn the same way I do. Furthermore, not all students come to college with the same amount of preparation and level of skill. The face of the student body is continually changing, a ...