What is a teaching philosophy?
A teaching philosophy is a statement of who you are as a teacher. It is rooted in what you believe about teaching and learning. Your goals for students, your understanding of your role as teacher, and concrete examples of your teaching and assessment methods may be included in your philosophy statement. Essentially, a philosophy statement is the why, what, and how of your teaching.
What are the characteristics of a teaching philosophy?
1) Narrative, engaging and rhetorically effective text, in the first-person
2) Brief and concise, 1-2 pages
3) Clearly explains concrete goals, teaching methods, assignments, and assessments
4) Provides specific supportive evidence, either from personal teaching experience or relevant teaching literature
5) Uses language appropriate to the audience
2) Brief and concise, 1-2 pages
3) Clearly explains concrete goals, teaching methods, assignments, and assessments
4) Provides specific supportive evidence, either from personal teaching experience or relevant teaching literature
5) Uses language appropriate to the audience
Get started by answering the following questions:
1) Why do I teach?
2) What do I want my students to leave my class with?
3) What do I believe my role is in the classroom?
2) What do I want my students to leave my class with?
3) What do I believe my role is in the classroom?
Evaluating your teaching philosophy
Use this rubric to evaluate the examples below, as well as your own Teaching Philosophy:
[Rubric adapted from R. Neill Johnson by Lauren Kooistra, The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, The Pennsylvania State University]
Examples of teaching philosophies
The following examples are taken from The Center for Research on Teaching and Learning of The University of Michigan, found at http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tstpum.php Go to this link for more examples in a wide variety of fields.
Mechanical Engineering: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/TP_pdfs/Peters.pdf
American Culture: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/TP_pdfs/Cornelius.pdf
Microbiology and Immunology: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/TP_pdfs/Natural_7.pdf
Psychology: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/TP_pdfs/KatherineFiori.pdf
Other examples can be found at the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence.
Mechanical Engineering: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/TP_pdfs/Peters.pdf
American Culture: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/TP_pdfs/Cornelius.pdf
Microbiology and Immunology: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/TP_pdfs/Natural_7.pdf
Psychology: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/TP_pdfs/KatherineFiori.pdf
Other examples can be found at the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence.
Resources
Kelsky, K. (2013). The weepy teaching statement: Just say no. The Professor Is In. http://theprofessorisin.com/2013/01/18/the-weepy-teaching-statement-just-say-no/
Lang, J. M. (2010). Four steps to a memorable teaching philosophy. The Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/article/4-Steps-to-a-Memorable/124199/
Montell, G. (2003). How to write a Statement of Teaching Philosophy. The Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/article/How-to-Write-a-Statement-of/45133/
Lang, J. M. (2010). Four steps to a memorable teaching philosophy. The Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/article/4-Steps-to-a-Memorable/124199/
Montell, G. (2003). How to write a Statement of Teaching Philosophy. The Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/article/How-to-Write-a-Statement-of/45133/