Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is based on a theory of learning that recognizes that knowledge is actively constructed, that knowledge construction has a social dimension, and that students learn best when they actively define their own learning objectives. In keeping with that philosophy, I aim to design and develop courses and course materials which facilitate the building of knowledge, skills, and abilities through active and frequent engagement with fundamental concepts and principles in the context of an inquiry-based instructional environment which emphasizes collaborative learning.
This approach to teaching and learning has developed through over 20 years of teaching and studying in a variety of contexts, from K-12 public education, special education, adult community education, and higher education. My passion for teaching Composition, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication is grounded in my belief that students are empowered by their abilities to communicate effectively and that effective communication goes beyond mechanical competence to the ability to analyze and address a variety of real-world contexts, audiences and purposes for communication.
