Teaching and Learning
My Teaching Philosophy
I believe that the secret to great teaching is focusing less on teching and more on student learning. The distinction is subtle, but important and has a lot to do with continually monitoring what students are actually learning, rather than assuming they are learning what I think I am teaching.
In my classes, I strive to make lessons relevant, fun, and effective. First I research what knowlege and skills employers, graduate schools, and professional schools are looking for in successful applicants. Then I design my courses around clearly-stated learning outcomes that embody those expectations. During the class, I provide learning activities, learning resources, and guidance to help motivated students achieve those learning outcomes. Finally, I try to provide frequent assignments and feedback to my students, so they know how well they are mastering the outcomes. The results of these frequent assessments also help me gauge how well my teaching strategies are working. I continually upgrade my courses based on this evidence to improve the level of learning in my classes.
I enjoy providing extra help for students who are proactive about seeking it in a timely and consistent manner, but I do not believe in hand-holding. I expect college students to take responsibility for their own learning. Students can (and do) fail my courses if they don't make the effort to turn in all assignments on time, monitor their scores throughout the semester, and actively seek my help whenever they are having trouble mastering the course learning outcomes.
Most of my students' course/instructor evaluations rate my classes as challenging but worth it and my grading on assignments and exams as hard but fair. Most students appreciate my outcomes-based approach to teaching and grading, but (I'll be honest), a few hate it. Alumni consistently report that skills learned in my classes have helped them get better jobs and see the world from a more interesting perspective.
I have developed and taught many courses at CSUMB and presently teach the following courses:
- BIO 345 (Marine Biology)
- BIO 242/242L (Animal and Plant Form and Function with Lab)
- ENVS 200 (Nature Photography)
- PHYS 150/150L (Physics for Biologists)
- PHYS 330/330L ( Electronics for Ecological Research)