I love teaching philosophy. Through philosophy, people develop their own intellectual agency: students learn to build their own perspectives and to evaluate arguments responsibly. I make every class component dynamic and interactive: reading, writing, and class discussion. Philosophy offers a chance to cultivate formal rigor together with playful curiosity. I aim for a balance of both of these qualities when I teach.
TEACHING DOSSIER
My teaching dossier can be accessed here.
STUDENT EVALUATIONS
Here are three comments of which I'm particularly proud:
"P1. If I learned a lot from this course, then I enjoyed the course a lot. P2. If I enjoyed the course a lot, then the course is awesome. SC1. If I learned a lot from this course, then the course is awesome (by Hypothetical Syllogism). P3. I learned a lot from this course. C. The course is awesome. The argument is unsound in the way P1 is false. It does not follow that I enjoy the course if I learned a lot. I can learn a lot and still not enjoy the course. This is subject to false cause? Just kidding. I enjoyed the course a lot. It helped me organize my arguments."
"Something I think can be improved is the pop quizzes, I did not feel they were helpful, I would prefer a quiz style in which our logic is challenged, not one in which there is a clear right answer. Other than that I enjoyed this class very much. Thank you."
"John has made, what would have been an otherwise grueling 8 a.m. class, into an enjoyable Tuesday/Thursday activity. The enthusiastic energy he brought to the class not only livened the atmosphere, but I would argue that his technique of making the class fun and enjoyable also helped me to remember the class content more fully. ... His communication was clear and precise, and he did a great job clarifying the content, messages, and structure of the articles. ... I guess for a Canadian, he wasn't that bad after all."
Below are links to unedited student evaluations.
Art, Value, and Society (section 1, section 2, section 3), Fall 2019, Auburn University
Ethics and Critical Thinking (section 1, section 2), Spring 2018, Baruch College CUNY
Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art, Spring 2018, Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY
Global Ethics, Fall 2017, Baruch College, CUNY
Logic and Moral Reasoning, Spring 2017, Baruch College CUNY
Logic and Moral Reasoning, Fall 2016, Baruch College CUNY
Global Ethics, Intersession Winter 2016, Baruch College CUNY
Global Ethics, Spring 2016, Baruch College CUNY
Logic and Moral Reasoning, Fall 2015, Baruch College CUNY
Philosophy of Mind, Spring 2014, Temple University
Meaning of the Arts, Fall 2013, Temple University
Introduction to Philosophy, Spring 2013, Temple University
Introduction to Philosophy, Fall 2011, Temple University
Critical Thinking (section 1, section 2), Spring 2011, Temple University
I take my job as a teacher seriously, creating an active and engaged learning environment. Here are some things my students have said about my teaching:
"I have to say, Professor Dyck has been the best professor I have had in the 3 years I have attended college! I am so happy that I waited to take this philosophy course until now because it was worth the wait! I have never met a professor that is as funny, starts active conversation and interacts with his students as well as he does! Professor Dyck, if you ever see this, thank you for an awesome semester!"
"Professor John Dyck is absolutely amazing. ALL PROFS should be like him! He is a great communicator, and really cares about seeing his students succeed. He is always ready to give us feedback and answer all our questions to complete clarity. I have not only learned a great deal, but look forward to the class discussions he fosters. The greatest honestly."
"If every instructor was like this instructor the world would be a better place (not a hyperbole)."
"He’s very open-minded; he actually listens to students and support/encourage us. He’s the best professor ever. I learned a lot through this course."
"He was always ready to hear our insight and give us advice. It was obvious he wanted to think deeply and be able to structure our own arguments clearly, no matter what they might have been. I was never interested in Philosophy before but John made this class my favorite of the semester."
"For having a class at 8am I really did not think I was going to be able to stay awake, but the enthusiasm which John radiated was so contagious that I realized I did not even need any coffee to stay awake."
"Really brings a great energy to each and every class, makes vague topics more understandable for everyone, and is absolutely hilarious. Really nice having a genuine person teaching something he’s passionate about. 10/10."
"He made the class very fun and was always interested in hearing what us students had to say. He treated all of our ideas with respect, which made people really open up and have discussions. I learned a lot in this class and am considering taking another philosophy course because I had such a positive experience in this one."
"I love this professor. He is very caring and easy to talk to. He usually opens up to the class and encourages us to open up to him too. He knows how to joke around but also know how to treat us with respect."
"I gained a lot of useful skills in the course, if only I took this course in the beginning of college."