Teaching Philosophy

Teaching Philosophy 

Sarah Gonzales, M.A. Communication

"Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference."-- Jane Goodall

General Statement on Teaching:

As a student, I can recall several moments in my educational journey in which I felt lost in the crowd. I also can identify several "teachers" who offered a different approach to the curriculum. Teaching is often described as the passing of knowledge to individuals who are open to receive the information provided. However, I do not feel as though this is the best way to describe what occurs in the classroom. The learning environment should be fluid in which by teaching the student, I gain access to becoming a better instructor. The greater the teacher I become, the better I am at facilitating the learning of others. I feel strongly that the term student is just a title given to each individual. As the instructor, I care more about the individual behind the title. Therefore, I recognize the individual greatly in my teaching philosophy and encourage students to go beyond the material to think critically about the course. I believe this is crucial for encouraging the individual to become a life-long learner.  

Classroom Environment: 

The study of communication relies on the idea that each person has a "voice" and thus should be entitled to share it with the world. Before we can address the environment of the classroom, we need to address the individual. While many students enter the classroom prepared with the tools needed to gain an education, many are not equipped in this way. My goal is to guide each student, regardless of what they are bringing in to find their own voice. This method involves recognizing that each of us have a diverse package including: historical background, family dynamic, individual personality, identity struggles, and social capacity. Acknowledging these differences allows our classroom to draw from experiences and create a greater understanding of the world around us, thus putting communication into practice. 

We each are responsible for absorbing the information provided to us by our peers, what we do with that knowledge is a true test to our character. Shall we change or shall we stay the same person? In my classroom, it is my individual belief that we should portray the world in which we each desire; including an understanding of each individual. This shall be done by drawing on each of our own experiences, backgrounds, and future mindsets. Students shall be provided times to share their experiences and given opportunities to express with the class a learning moment of those around us. 

Assessments:

In order to fully gain knowledge of communication, students need to gain the ability to converse with members of society. In order to do this, students need to be able to interact with peers by listening, responding verbally, and providing appropriate nonverbal signals. However, as the instructor, I feel it is my personal responsibility to provide support for academic success. Therefore, I feel it is my "job" to provide students with tools to be successful on formal and informal assessments. This includes tests, quizzes, Socratic circles, writing opportunities, and presentations. I personally enjoy implementing technology into the classroom, so many times reviews and/or recall moments will be utilizing technology. 

Academic Success:

Although the grading scale is numerical and alpha-based, I believe how a student falls on this scale is determined greatly by their willingness to put in the effort. Each communication course is intended to help make each student a better individual in society. To ensure this is the outcome of the course each student must participate in class to gain the maximum exposure to the curriculum.  

Student Communication:

In order to encourage students to continue learning, it is imperative that I provide feedback in a timely manner. Therefore, I believe strongly in creating an open-door style of communication for discussion of learning strategies, opportunities for growth with material, and individual circumstances. 

Courses taught:

COMM 1307- Mass Communications

SPCH 1311- Intro to Speech

SPCH 1315- Public Speaking

SPCH 1318- Interpersonal Communication

SPCH 1321- Business & Professional Communication