Recipient of the AEJMC VisCom Teaching Award 2020, which recognizes excellence in
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Recipient of the Adobe Creative Educator badges, a professional development achievement. |
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I strive to empower students to become innovators within their chosen field. My courses are centered on socially responsive understandings of communication. I use examples to help students understand that our ideas are shaped by experiences, language, and imagery. Assignments are structured to challenge students to think critically and make informed decisions about the arguments presented in class. Through engaged discussions we recognize a common humanity while preserving important elements that constitute our differences. Building an environment where it is possible for the class to express its needs is important, this includes thoughtful feedback regarding related course materials.
I use a dynamic approach between lecture and practice. By allocating ample class time to hone technical skills, I am able to respond to students on an individual basis; which is especially applicable in courses that incorporate software, since students are usually at different stages of proficiency. Through hands-on class activities that require creativity and risk-taking, I try to provide students with opportunities for personal growth that can lead to intrinsic motivation. I try to cultivate enthusiasm for the study of communication through my own passion for the material. In courses that emphasize visual communication I facilitate a learning journey through assignments that allow students to find their own style, strengths, and voice as exemplified their award-winning work.
In the field of communication, collaboration encourages group bonding as well as a real working environment. Students always learn a great deal from each other since they come from such diverse backgrounds. Presentation is strongly emphasized in every class, I hold extremely high standards to students’ final projects, as they should do so themselves as emerging professionals. Aside from my interests in the formal classroom setting, I am also a firm believer in study abroad and/or field work as an intensive and immersive learning approach. As I review student evaluations, I appreciate reading that my courses ask them to think differently about communication and I am happy my students know that I value their educated opinions.
I use a dynamic approach between lecture and practice. By allocating ample class time to hone technical skills, I am able to respond to students on an individual basis; which is especially applicable in courses that incorporate software, since students are usually at different stages of proficiency. Through hands-on class activities that require creativity and risk-taking, I try to provide students with opportunities for personal growth that can lead to intrinsic motivation. I try to cultivate enthusiasm for the study of communication through my own passion for the material. In courses that emphasize visual communication I facilitate a learning journey through assignments that allow students to find their own style, strengths, and voice as exemplified their award-winning work.
In the field of communication, collaboration encourages group bonding as well as a real working environment. Students always learn a great deal from each other since they come from such diverse backgrounds. Presentation is strongly emphasized in every class, I hold extremely high standards to students’ final projects, as they should do so themselves as emerging professionals. Aside from my interests in the formal classroom setting, I am also a firm believer in study abroad and/or field work as an intensive and immersive learning approach. As I review student evaluations, I appreciate reading that my courses ask them to think differently about communication and I am happy my students know that I value their educated opinions.