My philosophy of teaching could be better illustrated as a philosophy of learning. For me to be an effective instructor, I critically focus on student-learning, experience and prior knowledge; and then make necessary adjustments in my teaching strategies in response to the depth and pace of how my students will connect to and understand the content. I feel that teaching is a practice that requires a combination of knowledge, passion, understanding motivation, creativity and skill. My role as an educator is to not only deliver the defined content effectively to my students but also, to help them make connections to the material through various learning pathways, and cultivating their critical thinking skills while peaking their levels of curiosity. I strive enthusiastically to incorporate each and every student into the learning and encourage their voices in processes. I have always valued my students as individuals. No two students have the same sets of experience, background, knowledge, goals, motivations or expectations. I encourage and foster an environment that is exciting and engaging because real learning begins when students are active participants in their own learning.
I believe that teaching should be approached as a scholarly activity that requires continual evaluation and necessary adjustments to keep the focus aligned to student learning and the continuous improvement of instructional techniques. Effective and proactive teaching strategies begin with understanding that more often than not, there are multiple pathways to learning and therefore, differentiation is an essential element in the equation of successful teaching. Properly implementing assessments that are aligned to the defined goals and objectives, combined with careful observation, will help determine the direction to optimize the learning experience and subsequent outcomes. One important strategy that I have used in most every level of my teaching has been to vary my instructional strategies to ensure that the learning is student-centered at all times. As an educator, I am in a constant state of evolution in my practice, skills, acquisition of new knowledge, refinement phases and further, new developments that I take advantage of in order to be beneficial and an effective educator. Taking advantage of any opportunities for professional development to advance my teaching skills is a crucial part of maximizing my level of effectiveness.
Another critical aspect to increasing student learning potential is the frequency and use of feedback. Feedback is a pedagogic skill that develops over time; and, is a key element in the communication between instructor and learner. As an instructor, I am always mindful that no matter what type of feedback type I select or at which time I choose to administer this tool, there will always be an emotional and profound impact on my students – be it positive or negative. I use effective feedback at different intervals of the educational process to provide information on how well the desired educational goal was or is being met. I am mindful that feedback should always be timely, sensitive and constructive; and, feedback should always be focused on the work and processes – never on the student personally. My analysis can have a positive or negative impact on my student’s confidence, interest and motivation levels. I feel it’s our role as educators to develop an environment that fosters a feeling of motivation and encouragement for our students.
In summation, I believe that teaching is not merely about meeting curricular goals and expectations; but, it’s also our aim and focus as educators to maximize student- learning and help them reach their full potential. The classroom environment should increase levels of engagement so students are proactive participants in their own learning. My ultimate goal as an educator is to provide my students with requisite knowledge while encouraging them to strengthen their critical thinking skills by guiding them, helping them bridge gaps in their knowledge and, to help them connect to the content to promote learning that is long term. As an educator, I strive to be a facilitator, a mentor and a leader.
Milisa A. Sammaciccia Ismail, MEd.
Milisa A. Sammaciccia, MEd. 