WHAT AREA DO YOU TEACH?
Sociology
EDUCATION/DEGREE(S)
BS in Political Science
MS in Social Science
YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING:
In short: Critical thought lies at the core of my teaching philosophy. I feel that it is the responsibility of a teacher to encourage a student to question not only the ideas and concepts that are presented in class, but also the knowledge that they have accrued throughout their lives. I further believe that critical thought is a necessary element for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Encouraging my students to utilize critical thought not only helps them to better understand the material that is covered in class, it also helps them to develop questions which can be explored before, during and after class. When my students and I are prepared to critically examine the assigned materials during class, we not only generate interesting and exciting questions concerning sociology, we also synthesize new understandings of sociology.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TEACH?
I decided to teach for a variety of reasons, but to sum it up with two points: I fell in love with the balancing act of combining both art and science that is pedagogy, and I love the interaction dynamic between students and teacher where I am able to help students and contribute to higher degrees of thought.
BEST ADVICE FOR STUDENTS
Never stop questioning.