Teaching Philosophy
My personal goal is to be an outstanding teacher and mentor who creates an inclusive, welcoming learning environment where all students feel valued, respected, and supported in achieving their full potential. I believe diversity of thoughts, perspectives, and backgrounds is an asset that elevates the educational experience for all.
The information systems discipline is the study of using computers to provide information that supports operations, management, and decision-making in organizations. I believe understanding how programs are constructed and applied is essential for capable information systems professionals. This involves more than just comprehending programming logic – it requires understanding the reasoning behind approaches and when to choose one option over another. My ultimate goal is for students to develop critical thinking skills necessary to apply course concepts and techniques to real problems they will face in their careers.
In my role as an educator, I strive to understand my students' diverse identities, experiences, and learning needs. The majority pursue information systems to enter business or technology careers. Therefore, I design courses to equip students with essential knowledge and skills, but also to develop critical thinking abilities to effectively navigate diverse teams and workplaces.
My approach involves:
- Challenging students through varied assignments that allow me to evaluate their progress fairly, while incorporating representation of diverse voices, examples, and case studies.
- Fostering mastery of course content, but also facilitating discussions that invite students to share perspectives and make connections between the material and their unique identities and experiences.
- Employing multimodal instruction and leveraging various techniques to account for different learning styles, while using inclusive language and respecting students' names/pronouns.
- Supporting student success through mentoring, advising opportunities, and creating pathways for underrepresented students to develop professionally in information systems.
I continually expand my teaching skills and methods to meet the needs of a diverse student body and create an accessible, inclusive classroom culture. For example, I now leverage generative AI as a powerful tool to better support the diverse needs of learners. This innovative technology augments learning while preparing students for AI's growing presence in the workforce. I also strive to incorporate diverse voices in my courses, facilitating discussions connecting content to students' identities.
I value feedback on how I can further build an environment of mutual understanding and I am committed to continually learning and improving to provide an enriching, inclusive educational experience that empowers all students to achieve their highest potential.
last updated April 19, 2024