The document provides guidance on developing a teaching philosophy statement. It explains that a teaching philosophy statement clarifies a faculty member's purpose in course design, interactions with students, and approach to ongoing self-assessment and development. It should be 1-2 pages, use first-person, and include elements such as learning objectives, teaching activities, and how the faculty member contributes to student learning and the university's mission. Developing a strong teaching philosophy statement provides benefits for the faculty member, students, and evaluators for tenure and promotion reviews. The document encourages attendees to draft portions of their own statement.
2. 1. To understand . . .
the content and form of a teaching philosophy
statement
its use and potential value
strategies for developing and revising yours
2. To pre-write or draft portions of your
statement
4. Can include any or all of the following:
Your subject areas – and why
Your student learning objectives – and why
Assignments and activities – and why
Your students’ characteristics– and how you
reach them
5. Your role in facilitating the learning process –
and why
How you think students learn best – and why
How you translate these ideas into action
H0w you contribute to university’s mission
Your personal growth plan – and why
and plenty of good, specific examples for all
of the above
6. For YOU:
Gain clarity of purpose in course design and
interactions w/ students
Achieve simpler, briefer class prep
Engage in ongoing self-assessment
Acquire a road map for personal
development
7. For STUDENTS
Understand learning objectives more clearly
See purpose behind class activities
Gain meta-cognitive skills
. . .ultimately, LEARN MORE
8. For EVALUATORS
In annual evaluations
In tenure & promotion evaluations
In teaching awards process
9. Evaluators can . . .
Gain a more personal, vivid sense of your
teaching personality
Connect the dots: see why you teach the way
you do
Learn context for other data: student
evaluations, peer evaluations, school letters
Understand how you are proactive about
developing
10. 1. Philosophy statement clarifies how you
achieve and develop teaching effectiveness
--SEU Faculty Manual on evaluation of
“Teaching Effectiveness” (pgs 19, 29)
2. Self-evaluations draw from philosophy.
11. Promotion to Assistant Professor requires that
you:
“have received evaluations demonstrating
growth in each of the three areas of faculty
performance since appointment to the St.
Edward’s faculty [. . .]
Clearly demonstrate potential for continued
growth in teaching and professional
development.” (pg 36)
12. Committees deciding promotion to
Associate, full Professor, and tenure often
emphasize category “D” in teaching area:
“Ongoing self-assessment and development”
13. Cornerstone of a teaching portfolio
Tells reviewers how to read everything else:
Syllabi
Assignments and activities
Grade distributions
Student evaluations
Mistakes, learning curves
Makes your teaching personality public to
people who have never seen you teach.
14. Exercise #1:
Describe the learning objectives for one of
your courses.
Explain your rationale.
15. Exercise #2
Describe student performances (assignments
and activities)
Explain how these contribute to learning
process
16. Exercise #3
Provide 1 example about you
Provide 1 example about students