Kawis Aziz Faraj

1.       Acquiring knowledge by instruction or study is learning, which, of course, is the purpose of education.

2.       I firmly believe that the best way to learn is to teach and one continues to learn all through one’s life. My students’ responses are the best source for improving my teaching techniques which are evolving on a continuous basis.

My Philosophy in Teaching:

The concepts of active learning and collaboration are central to my philosophy of education. My philosophy of teaching is to create an environment that allows for supervised exploration. I believe that the most significant learning occurs in situations that are both meaningful and realistic.

An effective teaching philosophy has a single focus or organizing theme and communicates this purpose to your audience clearly and persuasively. Before beginning to write, select one primary audience. An effective teaching philosophy also gives specific, concrete evidence of teaching effectiveness. In fact, for every assertion, there is an example or two. Giving specific examples is not as easy as it sounds. Read this on giving specific examples. A teaching philosophy explains the teaching goals that are common to all your classes and demonstrates how the pedagogy and assessments you use support those goals. It addresses self-improvement strategies, i.e., “what’s next?” for you as a teacher.

A constructivist approach to learning requires a diligent needs assessment to identify the starting knowledge base, and also continuing assessment of the student’s learning. This includes establishing well-reasoned and specific goals and objectives for each stage of training, and a willingness to be flexible when necessary to meet the individual learner’s needs. Regular formalized assessment and feedback are likewise vital. However, to really transition from a teacher-centered learning environment (such as the classroom) to a more learner-centered environment (such as the wards), students must identify learning needs in themselves, and assess their own progress. The use of portfolios, in the medical school, residency and faculty setting is one way that I have worked to foster self-assessment and help to instill life-long learning habits.