I am a firm supporter of learner-oriented teaching. I believe students need instruction that proves that the professor is both engaged and woke to current trends in research and practice, as well as to students’ needs within the classroom. Therefore, I have the responsibility to know who my students are, what kind of knowledge and experience they bring to the learning environment, and what they hope to accomplish through their educational endeavors. This is information that I seek to discover through application, interview, and orientation processes, as well as through classroom and/or online interactions. Students must be able to move from theory to practice, and this can only be accomplished through collaborative interaction, round-table discussions, focused activities, guided research opportunities, and supportive interactions with faculty. All of which, I utilize in the classroom environment. In order to fully support students, I make myself available to them. I am regularly working in my office, respond to emails within 24 hours, and provide regular office hours, as well as meetings by appointment when needed. It is my responsibility to both build and engage students in the learning environment whether face-to-face, hybrid, and/or online. Ultimately, I believe that we have just as much to learn from our students as our students have to learn from us.
