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Paula Fender

PhD Graduate and Former Teaching Assistant in

Rhetoric and Professional Communication

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa

Teaching Statement

The principle goal of education is to create men [and women] who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done-men [and women] who are creative, inventive, and discoverers.

–Jean Piaget, Swiss psychologist and pioneer in the study of child intelligence.

What is my teaching philosophy? Here I borrow from a media journalist. I think education is power. I think being able to communicate with people is power. One of my main goals on the planet is to encourage people to empower themselves. Because people learn in different ways, I bring three primary objectives to the classroom. Each objective supports the other to facilitate learning in individuals from diverse backgrounds and with diverse skill sets.

First, as a teacher, I facilitate experiential learning situations. I encourage students to embody the work they are doing by writing on real life situations. In researching, I encourage students to find common ground between themselves and who they are researching. I encourage students to expand their terministic screens and find truth for themselves in the works of the masters in their profession.

Secondly, I encourage the use of technology in the classroom and at home. In directing students to the resources found on the internet, it is my goal to expose students to ideas and assumptions that shape the production of knowledge in the field of writing.

Finally, I utilize lecture, facilitated discussions, and group work to disseminate information and to encourage students to learn from the experiences of one another. With my teaching style, I incorporate course topics, assignments, assessments, and strategies drawn from courses that I have taught and am prepared to teach. I also utilize mentoring and advising experiences to shape instruction.

The range of my teaching experience spans from the fundamentals of grammar, research, and the writing process to building strategies for success in a competitively driven global marketplace. In all my teaching strategies, I attempt to inspire growth in my students by giving them tools to take into other disciplines and into their personal and professional lives. The tools I provide are a thirst for knowledge; critical thinking abilities; and effective communication skills. It is my sincere desire to help shape future leaders who will carry the torch of the forerunners in their chosen professions.