Transcript Writing a Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Crafting a Statement of
Teaching Philosophy
Dr. Jennifer Clary-Lemon
Rhetoric, Writing, and
Communications
What is a Statement of Teaching
Philosophy (or Teaching Statement)?
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a way to document and frame your
teaching practices
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a central part of a teaching portfolio
(teaching dossier)
Secrets?
What is a Statement of Teaching
Philosophy (or Teaching Statement)?
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allows you to reflect on and articulate your beliefs
and practices as a teacher
identifies sophisticated goals for teaching and
describes varied methods for meeting teaching
goals
considers the relationship between teaching content
(disciplinary knowledge) and teaching skills (i.e.,
“critical thinking”)
demonstrates an understanding of student learning
helps provide a focus for your teaching
may provide an outlet for professional dialogue,
growth, and development
A Strong Statement
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identifies goals for student learning
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What knowledge, skills, and attitudes are important for student
success in your discipline?
describes teaching methods that enact and meet learning
goals for students
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What teaching methods do you use? Why are these methods
appropriate for your discipline?
describes measurement of student learning (how
assessments meet learning goals)
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How do you know your goals for students are being met? What
sorts of assessment tools do you use and why?
considers needs of a diverse student body
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How do your own and your students’ identities, backgrounds,
experiences, and levels of privilege affect the classroom? How
do you take into account diverse learning styles?
is well written in terms of structure, rhetoric, and language
The details/getting started/revising what
you’ve got: Lang (2010) suggests:
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Beginning with the end
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Making Distinctions
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How are your teaching objectives different in service
courses? Upper-division courses?
Being Specific
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In what ways are students changed by my classes at the
end of term?
Offer detailed descriptions of teaching strategies
Citing your Sources
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Explain how and why you think the way you do about
teaching (scholars, mentors, your own experience at
school?)
“I’m a fabulous teacher, but haven’t
given it much thought otherwise”
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Scholarly books and articles
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Teaching Perspectives Inventory
 Questions about teaching beliefs, intentions and
actions
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Teaching Goals Inventory
 Identifies teaching goals you feel are important
The things you learn
How to Connect Teaching Goals with
Methods and Philosophy
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Organizational Matrix (Dawson-Munoz,
1994)
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Teaching claim
Narrative example
Theoretical support (if warranted)
Supporting data in dossier (for tenure/promotion.
Connects philosophy to items in your portfolio,
such as assignments, in-class activities, student
comments)
Pair up and share
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One teaching claim (useful to frame as a
student learning goal); i.e. “I am attentive
to diverse learning styles”
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One narrative example (think about the
ways in which you can prove the claim);
i.e. “I vary class formats to honour visual,
textual, tactile learners by doing XXXX”
Workshop Teaching Statements
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Read the Statement of Teaching Philosophy
(number assigned)
Discuss with your group members your
evaluation of the statement, based on the
rubric:
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Goals
Enactment of goals
Assessment of goals
An inclusive learning environment
To take:
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Packet of 5 multidisciplinary
statements
Rubric for composing and evaluating a
statement of teaching philosophy
Organizational Matrix
References (Writing the Statement,
Sources on Pedagogy)
Contact? [email protected]