Teaching Philosophy

In the lab, the overarching teaching philosophy is to achieve excellence through motivation and continuous improvement linked to a growth mindset^[1]: Anchored in neuroplasticity^[2], acquiring a growth mindset has been shown^[3] to greatly improve academic achievement. It has been found^[4] that excellent teachers create such an environment that is challenging yet supportive, where students can safely try, fail and receive feedback and where teachers constantly improve themselves and their curriculum. I have personally benefited much from this mindset and convey it in it in both my teaching and mentoring.

^[1] Dweck (2008), Mindset: the New Psychology of Success.

^[2] Green and Bavelier (2008), “Exercising Your Brain: a Review of Human Brain Plasticity and Training-Induced Learning.”

^[3] Sarrasin et al. (2018), “Effects of Teaching the Concept of Neuroplasticity to Induce a Growth Mindset on Motivation, Achievement, and Brain Activity”

^[4] Bain (2011), What the Best College Teachers Do.