Awards and Recognition
Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
2006-2007 GTA Winners
Teaching Philosphies
Gretchen M. Ionta
January 2007
In the course of my education I have been fortunate in having had many good teachers. Among them were a handful of truly great teachers who have had a lasting impact on me. Without exception these teachers brought the following qualities to the classroom: enthusiasm, organization and knowledge of subject matter, and clarity of delivery. As I begin my teaching career, I strive to emulate these great teachers by bringing these qualities into my own classroom.
Foremost of these qualities is an enthusiasm for the subject matter. A good teacher (or speaker) can illuminate any subject matter, no matter how dry, by imparting through their own enthusiasm a sense of excitement and discovery. In my lectures I use photos and props to illustrate points and to keep the energy of the classroom up. Breaking up a lecture with demonstrations and discussions engages students, stimulates their curiosity and keeps them interested and focused. The opportunity to observe firsthand and in some cases touch, smell or taste living and preserved organisms is essential to the success of any biology class. Laboratory exercises are designed to enhance and expand on materials presented in class, and at the same time promote creative and scientific thinking through active-learning exercises.
Organization and mastery of the subject is essential. I review the subject matter using a number of resources, including textbooks, recent journal articles and online sources. The best teachers have the ability to take a highly complex subject, distill it down to its essence, and then present it in a manner that is logical, organized and seemingly simple. When preparing lectures, I ask myself: what are the main points I am trying to get across? How can I simplify the subject matter and organize it? I then use that as a framework upon which I can layer in detail.
An enthusiastic and well organized lecture should naturally lead to the third quality, clarity of delivery. I speak at a moderate pace, take time in between concepts to “shift gears”, and try to create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for learning. I always encourage questions during my lectures. Through the use of photographs, demonstrations and in-class discussion I try to accommodate students with a range of learning styles. I find that repetition is a great teacher – I revisit key points several times during the course of a lecture, and again in laboratory exercises, discussions and take home exercises.
