A few interrelated goals inform my approach to educating and provide sources of inspiration as a teacher. First, I believe an important initial step to educating is to get students engaged, which can be achieved by connecting the material to their goals and life experiences, inspiring a passion for asking questions, and instilling a sense of ownership and autonomy over their own learning. Second, I think it is important that students are well aware that learning can and should be a challenge both intra- and interpersonally, so that they can maintain an open and critical perspective. I challenge students to ask questions not only for the sake of better understanding, but also for the sake of revealing potential failings in conveyed knowledge, opening up deeper discussion, and generating research questions. Finally, these goals are both in the service of the broader goal of making students better critical thinkers and members of society. The Enlightenment view of education suggests that to be mature is to have the capacity to critique one’s surroundings. This critical capacity is what affords innovation and democratic process, and as such it is intimately linked to the overall health of our society. When education succeeds, it allows students to reach their own creative potentials and helps to ensure that society is in good hands moving through the generations.
University of Missouri, 2010-14
Personality, Social Psychology, York University, 2009
Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods and Statistics I, Knox College, 2007
Student Success Center, University of Missouri, 2010-11
Center for Teaching and Learning, Knox College, 2005-6
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