Philosophy

My teaching practice is rooted in a developmental perspective on education. For this perspective, I rely primarily on John Dewey's belief that development is life. As long as we are living, we are developing, and we grow as a result of this ongoing living development. This developmental perspective on education enables me to see education as a lifelong process, one that does not end when schooling does, from which we continuously grow and change as a result of our accumulated educative experiences.

Teaching in an open-access community college with a developmental perspective means to me that I must accept every person I teach wherever they are, regardless of their perceived ability level, the course level, or the course content. I must move every person as far as I can during the brief time our lives intersect. My aim is to support and facilitate habits of self-directed, lifelong learning for continual growth and change for every person in every class I teach (crucial in Dewey's time, and just as crucial in our time). To do so, I must provide them with something of value that they can carry with them to use flexibly and to adapt freely as they continue to progress and grow through their time in college, work, and throughout their lives.