Personal Philosophy of Teaching and Education

Teachers play a vital role in their student's lives and the learning process in the classroom. Essential attributes that teachers promote are the development of critical thinking skills, self-starters, creative thinkers, and problem solvers. Teachers should encourage life-long learning while also serving as mentors, especially for unrepresented youth and young girls, who statistically lose interest in Science in the middle grades. Teachers should also provide a safe and diverse learning environment for all students, so they can maximize the joy in learning and be successful. Project-based learning affords students the environment to explore and be creative but also allows teachers to take a holistic approach to build a community of learners.

The incorporation of project-based learning in the classroom affords students the opportunity to be creative, develop critical thinking skills, solve problems, and develop teamwork and communication skills. It allows teachers to help facilitate a conducive environment to learning through exploration and collaboration. Using project-based learning allows students to experience productive struggle which in turn helps students develop a conceptual understanding of the concepts and content. Teachers who utilize productive struggle through project-based learning help facilitate students' growth as learners. Teachers, in turn, act as facilitators for students along the path of learning by providing meaningful feedback to maximize learning.