Philosophy Towards Teaching

There are two main issues that I will briefly address. These include (1) the student-teacher relationship, and (2) how a class should be taught.

My opinions and ideas are based upon my own experience as a student and educator. I have had the benefit of studying under some wonderful academicians who were particularly sensitive to students and respected their opinions. They taught me that adherence to absolute standards of excellence in pedagogy is the cornerstone of vitality in higher education and that teaching and research are dynamic processes that are integrally related.

I believe that excellence in pedagogy is achieved by:

(1) staying abreast of contemporary developments in one's field.

(2) devoting considerable effort to lecture preparation.

(3) maintaining an open dialog with students to assess their needs.

(4) providing students with facilities and support to carry out independent research projects.

(5) involving students in faculty research projects.

(6) demonstrating active involvement in the field through innovative research, publications, and presentations of scholarly papers at professional meetings.

The Student-Teacher Relationship

Receptiveness

I think it is extremely important that a teacher be receptive to students. A teacher cannot be arrogant and withdrawn and be an effective educator. I strive to make students comfortable in expressing their opinions in class and with me on a one to one basis. I feel that an excellent teacher is both a good professor and an attentive listener. To open the dialog it is incumbent upon a teacher to bring forth the interesting and intriguing qualities of their subject, a task that is not difficult when teaching anthropology.

I feel that, whenever possible, students should be encouraged to participate in a research project with their faculty. Students tend to be highly motivated in archaeology and they enjoy site excavations and laboratory analysis. I make every effort to provide my students with this kind of experience.

Flexibility

An effective teacher must be flexible in their teaching method. To bring out the inquisitive nature of each student it is important to avoid the pitfalls of being too rigid. Students should be treated as individuals and the diversity of the students in a class should be recognized. I strongly encourage students to pursue their own interests as well as the course objectives. I feel that the desire to "know" is perhaps the most important contribution to success in the academic environment.

Sensitivity

An educator must be sensitive to students; insensitivity is a major disservice to the pupil the instructor has agreed to serve. Under such negative conditions, it has been suggested that student achievement is not recognized, questions are unanswered, and the student is left to brood on the shame of his/her ignorance, and unfortunately their grievance goes unaddressed.

The best experiences that I have had as a student have been under the direction of professors who were responsive to my individual needs and were always willing to help when assistance was needed. Their interest and enthusiasm for anthropology and commitment to their work was a source of inspiration to me. I enjoy teaching, I respect my fellow educators, and I respect my students.

The Successful Course (Teaching Methods)

The successful course, in my opinion, requires good planning. One should identify the objectives for the class, i.e., what you want your students to learn in the class. The objectives should then be used to organize the class presentations.

Direct communication is extremely critical for students. The instructor must communicate to the students a set of expectations for their performance in the class. One must define the criteria to be used in the evaluation of whether or not a student has met the expectations. To facilitate communication, I think it is important that a class syllabus be handed out at the beginning of the term which clearly states the objectives of the class, the format of the presentations, a schedule for lecture topics, examination and project requirements, and the criteria used for grading. It is also important to provide the students with a study guide before a mid-term or final examination. The student should be encouraged to meet with the instructor during office hours or on an appointment basis throughout the term. I think that it is essential that the teacher be available for consultation.

Concluding Statement

I believe that teaching is both an art and a science. Artistically, teaching requires creativity, practice, patience, and commitment. From the scientific perspective, I feel responsible to stay abreast of the most successful techniques used for college instruction.