Jenn Burleson Mackay
Philosophy of Teaching

             

       I clearly remember the day that my mother came home from work and told me that her boss believed that I was not intelligent enough to handle the rigorous workload at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  It was not as though her boss knew much about me. Appalachian mountain natives were not considered capable enough to attend college with the best and the brightest students. My mother did not attend college and my father never made it through high school. I suppose most people expected me to follow a similar pattern.

         I was lucky that I had enough determination to overcome those barriers, but I remember what it was like to leave behind a tiny town and an even smaller high school as I headed to a large university.  Those memories have greatly shaped my perspective on teaching.

           Whether they have come from private high schools with excellent teachers or small country schools with limited resources, I believe that every student is capable of great accomplishments.  I strive to be a nurturing instructor who helps students to succeed even more than they think possible.

            I believe classes should be packed with as much discussion as possible.  By allowing students to talk, I can have a better idea of where they stand in their understanding of issues and concepts.  I think the learning process must begin where the student's knowledge already is.  The instructor's job is to build on that foundation.  In addition, class discussion allows the students to learn from one another.  I think that ideas will be reinforced more strongly if the students discuss issues with one another. The more they hear about a topic and talk about it, the more likely they are to think about it on their own and remember it.

            It is fundamental that students learn to think on their own.  Many did not learn to do that in their own high schools, so I strive to encourage that.  Unless they are ready to think on their own when they graduate, their success will be stalled.  They may not have the careers that they dreamed of and they may not be the productive employees that they could be.  It is a skill that must be developed and college is the perfect place for students to work on that.  I want my students to think beyond the textbook.  In some cases, I think that they should be ready to challenge the textbook.  The important thing is for them to think about the issues and that they do not just take every fact that is given to them and accept it as true.  They should learn the facts, and think about them and then consider for themselves how true they are.

            Another important aspect of the learning process is that the students build confidence in their own abilities.  By providing them a nurturing atmosphere where they are comfortable asking questions and discussing issues, students learn to trust in themselves.  It is my goal that they learn important principles in my class, but that they also develop independence.  I want them to know that they do not have to go to an instructor with every question that they have after their classes end.  They need to feel like they can make decisions on their own. I think the classroom has its limitations and the instructor's goal is to prepare students for what they will face once they leave the confines of a university setting.

            Students have many different learning styles and I feel that it is important that an instructor acknowledges those by incorporating different techniques into the class, without lowering the standards of the course.  By using videos and Internet technology in addition to readings, an instructor can reinforce information and help students with different learning styles to grasp the concepts that other students might learn just as easily by reading a book. My goal is not to entertain, but rather to peak their interest. 

            It is increasingly important that students learn about technology in their classes.  They need to know how to use it, what purposes it serves, and the ethical boundaries that may be breached through technology.  I believe that the college classroom is an important venue for students to explore technology and discusses the issues surrounding it.  It also is important that the technology is not allowed to distract students from the learning process. 

            I think that it is important that universities continue to reach out to unconventional students who are not necessarily able to regularly attend class.  Because of this, I hope that as I develop as an instructor, I will learn more about the uses of distance education.  I believe that students can still learn a great deal about some subjects without being in the classroom, but universities need to be willing to work around their complicated lives.  I believe any student who wants to learn should be given that opportunity, whether he has children at home or a complicated work schedule that cannot be adjusted.  While those students should be allowed to learn, communication needs to be open between the student and the professor.  That may mean regular virtual conversations, phone chats, or weekly meetings.  Nonetheless, the professor and the student must be actively involved in the learning process in order for distance education courses to be successful.