My teaching philosophy is
to have my student's progress, welfare, and concern as my primary responsibility
as an instructor. For the student to succeed, I must be a teacher, a
mentor, a coach, a motivator, and a good listener.
I accomplish this by teaching
the class in a fashion similar to what I would want taught to me, if
I were in their shoes. This requires that I concentrate and focus on
maintaining the student's interest in the subject of Air Conditioning,
Heating and Refrigeration Technology.
In my classes I promote
a relaxed and informal atmosphere and encourage students to work in
groups of no more than three students. I strongly advocate lab exercises
and activities that involve student groups. This provides students with
vital opportunities to effectively troubleshoot as a team, yet affording
each of them the maximum learning experience.
I always welcome and encourage
questions and active participation from the students, and in return,
I bring real world experiences to the classroom. This, I accomplish
by being active in the field of Air Conditioning, by participating in
professional development activities, and by keeping up with new technologies
and methodologies.
My teaching philosophy is
not to teach textbook theory that I cannot justify or exemplify without
real-world HVAC equipment. I utilize multiple strategies and develop
handouts that help students comprehend the course materials.
In addition to teaching Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating,
I teach them to utilize their logical thinking skills. I further encourage
them to think about what their answer should look like before they troubleshoot
equipment and think about whether their answer are sensible.
In my courses, students
get more value out of a "hands on" approach to troubleshooting
equipment rather than all of the theory classes put together. I convey
to the students, that I have high expectations for each of them, that
they are intelligent enough to learn and do the work that I put in front
of them. Accept the challenge. A good teacher needs to be receptive
to the needs and problems of the students. I accomplish this by identifying
the students by their full names and knowing some background information
about them. I obtain most of this information in a subtle fashion, via
an initial survey and numerous interactions with students. During my
office hours, my students are always welcome to consult with me if they
are seeking additional help, counseling or advice. I believe that the
very best in a person comes out in non stressful situations.
I communicate the course
instructional materials, grading policies, and other guidelines. I treat
my students honestly, courteously, fairly and consistently. I participate
in professional development activities, and keep abreast of new technologies.
