Teaching Philosophy (Brief)
I believe learning is best conceived as an active role that requires an investment on the part of the student. I see teaching as facilitating learning, sharing resources and strategies, and empowering students to apply knowledge. Importantly, this happens most effectively when the focus is on authenticity, active learning, and building community within the classroom.
My goals for student learning include that students can competently execute classroom skills and strategies, develop a critical understanding of the theory that guides those practices, and become thoughtful consumers and producers of media. I work to foster an environment that encourages students to critically engage with the course material and to bring their authentic selves into the classroom and their projects. It is important to me that students feel that what we are learning is worthwhile, and also to enjoy the experience of learning.
Students tend to describe me as "enthusiastic" which I take as a sign that I am getting my point across. Communication is powerful, transformative, generative and important... but it is also a blast!
Teaching Philosophy (Full Length) - coming soon
Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness - coming soon
Why We Read Podcast
Visit Fovea: Bringing Communication into Focus to access the "Why We Read" podcast (Produced by Gordon Coonfield)! These podcasts are designed to help students unpack some of the more complex readings found on my and Dr. Coonfield's Visual Communication syllabi. The content is "evergreen" - give it a listen and feel free to use it as you teach!
Pedagogy Presentations
Oswald, K. F. (2025, November). Panelist on Critical Media Literacy as Communication Activist Pedagogy. To be presented at the 2025 Annual Conference of the National Communication Association, Denver, CO.
Oswald, K. F. (2021, November). Spotlight Panel: Renewing and Transforming the Visual Communication Classroom: Pedagogical Strategies for Applied Visual Communication. Presented at the 2021 Annual Conference of the National Communication Association, Seattle, WA.
Oswald, K. F. (2021, May). Virtual Workshop: Teaching a Condensed-Format Course [Presenter]. Hosted by Villanova Institute of Teaching and Learning (VITAL), Villanova University, Villanova PA. Link
Oswald, K. F. (2017, November). Practicing Visual Narrative. Presented at the 2017 Annual Conference of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX.
Oswald, K. F. (2016, November). My Color Story: Teaching Eco’s “How Culture Conditions the Colours We See”. Presented at the 2016 Annual Conference of the National Communication Association, Philadelphia, PA.