TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Students learn in many ways and in different cultural contexts. My teaching is designed to suit the many different ways and cultural contexts in which students learn. I integrate visual, audial and kinesthetic approaches into lessons to support different learning styles. I often incorporate collaborative interactions featuring learner-based approaches. Whenever possible, I include hands-on activities.
In the Water Harvesting course, my colleague and I worked with students to design and carry out water harvesting projects in the community, such as by shaping the landscape and planting several fruit trees behind the local food co-op. In my environmental writing class, I worked one-on-one with students to help them produce
original, well-researched stories suitable for posting on our web-based publication, Southwest Environment. My students have consistently identified this hands-on approach as one of the most valued aspects of their education.
My pedagogical strategies help students incorporate information in a way that makes it their own, a useful framework they can build upon with other learning. I consider it part of my job to prepare students for success in future endeavors, whether they involve the professional sphere or continuing education.