Initial Teaching Philosophy

Initial Teaching Philosophy 

Krista Wellnitz 

January 17, 2012

Critical Thinking!  

It is my belief that learning should be fun, exciting, and challenging all at the same time. To me learning can be thought of as a new challenge. When you push students to think outside the box, and look at the real-world issues that are directly related to a specific discipline, greater understanding of that disciple happens. In agriculture, it is necessary as an instructor of young students to give them direct insight through the use of: real life examples, and through expressing the global importance of agriculture. The ability of students to advocate the agricultural discipline through the use of effective communication can increase the overall understanding of the day-to-day scenarios. This understanding can then be used to convey insight to those that may not have a strong agricultural background. Overall, it is important for students to come to class with an open-mind. An open-mind can facilitate increased understanding as a whole. Students learn to conceptualize and think critically about many different aspects. Being able to think critically allows for a deeper understanding of many different topics.

My Goals!

My goals as an instructor in the field of agriculture include: 1) Helping the students to understand the importance of agriculture around the world. 2) Allowing them to make their own informed decisions about the discipline. 3) To aid them in effectively communicating their beliefs and understanding of agriculture in a respectful and understanding manner.

Actions Taken to Reach my Goals!

In order to meet my goals as an instructor it is important to foster the student’s education. I feel that the enthusiasm of the professor, their overall knowledge and passion for the class, and the ability to relate to many different types of learning styles can help to facilitate learning in the classroom.  As an instructor it is my job to let the students know that I care about them, and that their education is important to me. In order to do this, I engage the students in their learning.  I do this by encouraging students to actively participate in hands-on laboratories, allowing them to ask questions without feeling intimidated by others in the class. I will use my own personal agricultural experiences to give them insight to different aspects of agriculture. I will also be available to help them one on one outside of class, taking the time to know their names, and using real world examples related to concepts and topics related to classroom discussion.

Learning Never Ends!  

Learning is more than coming to class, regurgitating the notes that were written on your paper, and passing a test! Learning is about being able to think critically about a topic while using clear strong evidence to back up your answers/beliefs, as well as being able to listen to others who may not always agree. The ability to listen and communicate to all types of people allows for strong agricultural ambassadors.