Teaching

Despite the title of this page, I do not believe in teaching, or education, as many people envision it. I feel the emphasis on teaching has become a substitute for a needed emphasis on learning. More specifically, what happens in a student's mind is entirely beyond our control as teachers. Regardless of how well a lesson is taught, however the many schools of thought about teaching may define that (number of visual aids, "types" of learner appealed to, time spent answering questions, etc), learning only occurs if a student puts forth the time and effort required. Teachers can, however, have great effect on the amount of time and effort needed. I continue to try and improve as a teacher by constantly asking how I can encourage greater commitments of time and effort from students and how I can help them make the most of the time and effort they apply. I try to remember that my best students would have most likely done as well without me, and there are many ways to unintentionally discourage or confuse any student. My success as a teacher is not really mine, but rather that of my students. While I too have a number of policies I have developed and implemented over the years, and as much as I believe in them, I hope that my policies will not define me as a teacher. Rather, I hope that I am defined by my goals of high standards, personal attention, finding ways to motivate students to succeed, and providing a learning environment in which they can.

Virginia Commonwealth University
Spring 2008	MATH 310	Linear Algebra
	MATH 201	Calculus II: Honors
University of Toronto
Fall 2007	MAT 294	Calculus & Differential Equations
University of Kansas
Spring 2007