Master of Science in Computer Science,
Master of Science in Mathematics,
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics,
Economics
(cum laude),
My teaching philosophy has changed over
the years from a 'knowledgeable lecturer" to a coach assisting students
toward understanding through the application of knowledge. Early in life, I felt sure that you gained
knowledge when you were listening and not talking. While you certainly are more apt to learn
while you are listening than talking, my years of experience in the computer
industry have changed that philosophy. I have come to understand that life,
especially a professional life, is a word
problem that has to be solved or at least worked on every day. That realization must have come from my math
background. On every job or project, no
one person knows everything nor can do everything; therefore there is a
continual on-going education process as the project progresses through its life
cycle. As a supervisor and manager I had
to coach employees as they took on new responsibilities requiring an expansion
of their skills and knowledge. I gave
guidance to find the necessary knowledge to solve the problem and the
encouragement to do so. I made sure they
had the basic skills to get started but wisdom is acquired by applying
knowledge to finding or developing solutions to new challenges. Another source of knowledge comes from the
interchange of information between team members and customers. Then if you can articulate your knowledge in
order for others to understanding, you have surely acquired and can use the
knowledge. To summarize my philosophy I
would take the famous Confucius saying: "I hear and I forget. I see and I
remember. I do and I understand" and add "I explain and I know".
To help
student gain basic skills, use lectures, occasionally have a guest lecturer,
give quizzes and many assignments, always coaching as to how to approach the
solutions. To help students acquire
understanding on how to approach problem resolution, assign applicable programs
and projects individually or in team projects where students are given
challenges that require an intellectual stretch to apply their acquired
skills. To help students recognize and
appreciate their knowledge and to give them the opportunity to present before
others validating their knowledge.
To
guide students along the paths of understanding.
To
challenge students to reach new heights of understanding.
To
excite students about the benefits of higher education.
To
encourage students to recognize the realities of their career choices.
To
prepare students for their career choice.
To
challenge students to think in the application of their knowledge.