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Teaching Philosophy I am committed to the goals of a liberal arts undergraduate education, which most educators would agree is intended to prepare students for a "lifetime of learning". Therefore, I view my role as helping students "learn how to learn" rather than teaching them specific facts. This makes Geology 100 more challenging to students than would a class that emphasizes the memorization of content, but I believe that it is more rewarding in the long term. Because Geology 100 is a course
intended to help fulfill the critical thinking in the
natural sciences general degree requirement, there are
certain objectives that I must
address within the context of geology. As with any skill, mastering
critical thinking skills requires practice, and I
provide weekly opportunities for students to do this through small group
discussions. However, I cannot force anyone to participate in the learning
process; and in the end, the responsibility for learning rests with each
student. |
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