1. Laura Widener – Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy of teaching grew from my diverse experiences as a student and my
commitment to helping others. It evolved from a love of learning and a passion to become an
effective educator to foster students’ personal growth. My interest in teaching writing stems
from the encouraging teachers that improved my self-perception, and my belief that writing skills
can be enhanced through supportive instruction and balanced curriculum. My interest in
teaching social sciences stems from the experience and belief that the study of social structures
and behaviors greatly benefit understanding and interaction in all social experiences regardless of
different fields of study.
Because of my knowledge and experiences, I find that my ultimate goal as an educator is
to cultivate positive and successful learning experiences. I want students to develop a love of
learning, an ability to understand and apply subject matter, and improve their critical thinking
skills to benefit their future. This mission can be accomplished by focusing on three primary
areas: student-centered teaching, thoughtful assessment strategies, and supportive and clarified
communication.
Student-Centered Teaching
Student-centered learning approaches are essential for promoting personal growth,
improving critical thinking skills, and successfully achieving learning goals. My focus as an
educator is not the content of my lectures or my expertise—rather my focus is to provide an
active learning environment that encourages students to be engaged and develop understanding
and meaning to create new knowledge. My student-centered approach seeks to maintain an
active learning environment by delivering information and ideas, utilizing experiential
approaches for the application of knowledge, and exercising components that require reflection
of new knowledge. These areas collectively contribute to fulfilling learning goals of: an
understanding of course concepts, an ability to integrate and apply knowledge in various
avenues, the capacity to care about and relate to content, and a better understanding of their own
learning processes. These approaches and strategies work together to promote the active
learning environment that produces significant and effective learning experiences.
Assessment
Assessment is an essential part of an effective learning experience, consisting of the
evaluation of the aspects and needs of students, courses, and programs. The purpose of
assessment is for me to gauge, support, and improve the student learning experience. This is
possible due to the ongoing formative assessment process of creating and implementing various
forms of assessment and interpreting the results in order to make informed decisions that address
the diverse needs of students, key areas of learning and development, and learning goals and
outcomes. Assessments provide me with the data needed to ensure that the student is
consistently the focus of the learning experience.
Communication
Communication is another facet of the learner-focused teaching approach. I am
committed to ensuring that every communication with students is clear, focused, and supportive.
My communication is timely and promotes an effective student learning experience, whether the
avenue is by e-mail, telephone, discussions, or the feedback that I provide. I am committed to
providing detailed assessment feedback that is both focused and clear in order to guide students’

2. efforts, promote learning and student success. Furthermore, my communicative responsibilities
also extend outside of the classroom. Communication with other educators for exchanging data
and pedagogical techniques is beneficial for the improvement student learning at an institutional
level, consistent with the scholarship of teaching and learning philosophy.
Teaching with the aspects of these three areas helps me fulfill my responsibility as an
educator to ensure that every aspect of my instruction contributes to a climate that promotes
learning and guides students through significant learning experiences. I strive to teach with
clarity and encouragement that makes this learning climate possible. I look forward to guiding
students in their learning experiences.