Philosophy of Teaching and Learning

Begin by reflecting on why you chose this profession: What motivated you to select a career path that includes teaching? Is there a particular event, person, or epiphany that prompted this decision? Did something or someone shape your personal definition of a "great teacher"? What synonyms for “teacher” would accurately describe what you believe yourself to be, or what you would like to be, for your students? Next, consider what you believe about learning and teaching:

• • Why do I teach the way I do?

  • Why do I choose the teaching strategies/methods that I use?

  • Why do I select particular assignments/experiences for my students?

  • How do I approach learning?

  • What does learning look like when it happens?

  • When learning does not happen – what has gone wrong?

  • What do I want my students to know and be able to do when they leave my course

  • How do I hope that students are changed by experiencing my course?

  • What do I want students to wonder about as a result of taking my course?

Documentation

A description of materials that have helped to form your beliefs about teaching and learning. Materials that demonstrate growth and change in your thinking about teaching and learning.

Provide evidence to support your points, including detailed descriptions, documents (syllabi, sample lesson plans, assignments, etc.), lists of activities, links to resources, and more. For a more in-depth reflection, use the following prompts below to help you formulate a more comprehensive teaching philosophy. You need not answer every question; each is provided to help you discover and articulate personal beliefs that shape your pedagogy.