Read about the approach each one of us takes on teaching!
Dr. Kent Scheller
My teaching is directly focused on the student experience. It is my intention when passing on our physics content that students can “see” and “feel” the material being discussed. When intuition guides learning, better understanding can be achieved when compared to memorization. So, it is my intent that all the material that I deliver becomes intuitive and makes sense when compared to their everyday experiences.
Dr. Kenny Purcell
In the courses I teach I see myself in the role of a guide on a journey through the course material and to a greater overall growth in the understanding of how the Universe works. I’ve been through the course that the student is taking and made it through the other side. In more advanced classes we may actually encounter material that no one has quite figured out yet but we can still learn much by exploring the paths taken by physicists to get to where our understanding is now and how that relates to the physics we know. While on this journey I know that not all of us take the same paths but I’m confident that we can all reach the other side. With that in mind I use many different means of instruction from lectures and numerous demonstrations to guided problem solving and student exploration in a laboratory setting.
Dr. Eric Greenwood
When teaching his classes, Dr. Greenwood usually likes to use a mixture of demonstration based lectures, problem solving sessions where he break up the class into groups and allow them to work on difficult problems together (peer learning sessions) while he goes around the classroom and answer questions, and multimedia presentations to illustrate ideas which cannot be demonstrated appropriately using drawings or demonstrations in class. The biggest mistake that many educators make is to have a single teaching philosophy which encompasses all possible learners. However, in reality, different learners have different expectations and needs when it comes to education. The most exciting thing about teaching is finding dynamic ways to reach different learners, while enhancing other learners’ understanding and experience at the same time.
Dr. Jenna Kloosterman
Dr. Kloosterman is committed to the research-based constructivist teaching principle that people learn based on connecting new ideas to what they already know. This means that she works to help students connect prior knowledge of physics from high school and concepts presented in class to solve real world physics problems. Students are encouraged to share their questions and thoughts in class as discussion with others is key to learning. Assignments are designed to help students see connections across ideas and thus understand and apply the foundational principles of physics.
Dr. Matt Merlo
When I approach teaching a class, my goal is that the students leave the class with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the subject and are prepared to use the material from the class as they continue their studies. To achieve this goal, I tailor my presentation of the material to each individual class, through classroom interaction, such as interactive problem solving and live demonstrations, and availability outside the classroom to help students individually and focus on their individual questions on the material. I encourage students to use me as a resource throughout the class and I am happy to take extra time to help a student succeed in the class.
