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Teaching Philosophy

I care about every one of my students and want all to succeed.  To have all students succeed in my courses is my main goal.  My definition of success is for them to 1) learn the course material, 2) be able to apply the material to other areas, 3) be motivated about the material, and 4) want to learn more than given in the course.

In helping students succeed I do the following:

1.      Help students learn

2.      Motivate students

3.      Encourage students

4.      Be an example for students

Help Students Learn

Clear objectives for student outcomes is essential to helping students learn.  I give much attention to writing course objectives.  These objectives are concise, easy to understand, and clearly state when the student has attained the objective.  This allows students to focus their attention when working on course material.  It also helps me prepare lectures, activities, and assignments that will help the students attain the objectives.

Setting a high standard is important for helping students learn.  I set high standards to encourage the students to rise to the standard.  The standards I set are not unattainable, but are the expected outcome of the course.

Student time is a premium.  Because of this I strive to help them learn efficiently.  I try to present material to the students in a clear and logical flow.  I hand out lecture notes when it will help students concentrate on the material instead of writing copious notes.  Handouts are always supplemented with additional material.  Also, assignments are given with clear objectives in mind.  These objectives are revealed to the students to help them relate to the assignment.

To help students see the immediate relevance of the course I reference other courses.  I show them the use of other material in the current course and the application of the current course to other courses.  This helps students see the immediate relevance of the course and helps them see the bigger picture.

Motivate Students

The biggest effect on student motivation is the motivation of the professor.  I am constantly seeking ways to motivate myself about the course material.  One way I motivate myself is to dig into the material to see what it reveals that I didn't already know.  I also seek ways to apply the material to other academic areas and industry.  Once I discover these I present them to the students in hopes it will motivate them.

Another way I try to motivate students is to show my enthusiasm for the material during class.  Enthusiasm and motivation spread very quickly when they witness it in class.

To motivate students, application of the course material to areas in industry is always given.  I also request students find applications of the material.  One way I require this is to have students do projects that require real application of the material.

Another way I motivate students is to have interactive presentations.  I try to give immediate positive feedback to students in order to motivate and encourage them.  With in-class discussions and activities they get a feeling of owning the material and the presentation.  Active thinking in class helps them focus on the material.  When in-class discussion and group work is coupled with a contest for a score or extra points, the students really respond.

Encourage Students

I always encourage students to do their best.  When I see students that are struggling I encourage and help them to do better.  This lets them know that I care about them and helps them care about themselves and their performance.  During class I encourage students to seek help when they are struggling with the course material and assignments.  They are encouraged either to come see me or to seek help elsewhere, where appropriate.

Students are encouraged to come see me during office hours or any other time.  I always have an open door policy and will see students anytime I don't have someone else in my office.

Be an Example for Students

There are several ways I try to be an example for students.  One way is to strive to have a good knowledge of the course material.  When I can answer questions efficiently and help students with problems it encourages them to strive for knowledge also.

Another way is to show respect for the students and discourage a lack of respect for each other.  Having them respect each other helps all of them feel a part of the class and helps with group dynamics.

I also strive to be a Godly example for the students.  I do this by letting my beliefs be known about religious and ethical issues.  I also encourage students to be involved at church activities and try to bring these up in class.