Teaching philosophy

From my perspective, the teaching/learning process is best regarded as a partnership between the student and the professor. This partnership needs to be nurtured regardless of class size. Therefore, I view teaching and learning as a simultaneous, interactive endeavor: Students are responsible to actively participate, to demonstrate a strong work ethic, and to achieve high standards; I attempt to integrate creative lectures and class activities, challenging assignments, and learning choices into my courses. My undergraduate classes are focused on learning specific concepts and applications that assist students in understanding and shaping the big picture. Students are encouraged to make intelligent decisions, to apply their acquired knowledge, and to use that knowledge to solve higher order problems. Through daily quotes and course-specific ethical issues, I attempt to integrate life values into their overall coursework. Through out-of-class interactions, relationships are built that can make a positive impact in students' lives. The impact is felt in my own life as I learn from my students and am greatly rewarded by my interactions with students. In some cases, this interaction and mutual benefit continue long after students have graduated.