TEACHING
Teaching philosophy and future
proposed contribution
I have been told by students and other instructors both in Spain and in the United States that I have an excellent ability to structure lectures and present material in a comprehensive manner. I have learned how to prepare high quality PowerPoint slide presentations as a tool to deliver my lectures to help retain visual interest and to better illustrate material. My teaching style and techniques are evolving daily as I learn through professional development, by studying my colleagues' performance, and by listening to the students.
Transmitting knowledge and understanding in the classroom is the objective and commitment of any teacher. An outstanding teacher focuses primarily on teaching the fundamental content of the course, while also stimulating interest and curiosity for science, fostering scientific and critical thinking, and developing student creativity, initiative and a passion for self-learning. Other tasks of a first-class teacher are to facilitate the acquisition of life-long learning skills, develop problem-solving strategies, and prepare the student to function effectively in an information economy and a global community, where respect for diversity, curiosity for discovering other cultures, and acquisition of strong communicative and social skills are essential for personal and professional growth.
Encouraging students to develop unique and independent ideas and solutions prepares them for life and for career growth. Group interaction is also essential for effective learning. Being able to share ideas, validate them with those of others, and engage in team projects are important processes in social and mental development. The teacher also leads students to reach correct conclusions, without always providing them with the answers.
Finally, I firmly believe that reinforcing the use of learned ideas and processes in new situations is critical. Students need to apply what they have learned to new learning situations. Knowledge transfer of this type is what really determines what they have learned.