Teaching Portfolio

Overview

Welcome to my teaching portfolio! This hub highlights my pedagogical approach, course materials, and student projects.

Teaching Philosophy

My fundamental teaching goal is to showcase the power of critical thinking — both inside and outside the classroom. I emphasize an interdisciplinary approach, helping students connect course material to real-world situations and, equally, apply their lived experiences back to the classroom. This two-way connection fosters stronger memory retention and genuine buy-in.

Recognizing that students come from all walks of life, I prioritize relatable, inclusive examples that build confidence in the skills being taught. In higher-level courses, the focus shifts toward concrete understanding and real-world application. In Exercise Physiology, for instance, I want students to leave with tools they can use to assess health outcomes and drive meaningful change for the people they’ll work with — regardless of where their career takes them.

As a community college transfer and first-generation college graduate, I understand firsthand the balancing act students face. From day one, I work to establish open communication and an accepting class environment, using student questions to drive discussion and bridge varying levels of prior knowledge. I draw on professional development, Sandra McGuire’s Teach Students How to Learn, and Bloom’s Taxonomy to inform my approach — incorporating varied study strategies, reflections, and active learning techniques like flipped classroom design, simulated assessments, guided group work, and clicker review.

Even in content-heavy courses where students feel like they’re “drinking from a fire hydrant,” pairing effective pedagogy with clear connections between concepts can break up the difficulty and make the material feel far less intimidating.