Developing a Practical Philosophy

TTY: Approximately 23,000 students and colleagues


My teaching philosophy is a simple and practical one that I can easily remember and apply to each class session and as I plan any course as a whole or for one just session. I use can use my personal philosophy as a constant check-list because it keeps me focused and on-track. I articulated this philosophy after about 12-15 years of teaching. Prior to that my official teaching philosophy was a jargon-filled document deep in my teaching folder. It may have sounded OK, but it wasn’t a guiding statement. Now, I can truthfully say that I work according to the following philosophy.

I pledge to do whatever it takes to explain the principles of the day and their application to today’s world.

a) whatever it takes means that I will use a variety of techniques in the classroom appropriately. I will recognize that younger undergraduates need to refocus several times during a class period but as they progress they will be able to extend their attention span. I will strive for student participation in each class with active discussion and problem solving strategies. I will provide a mix of live and video demonstrations. I will use humor appropriately. I will adjust the pace and tone of the class as needed based on student responses. I will give clear summaries and make sure that they have mastered the major points. When returning an exam, I’ll emphasize the concepts that still need some work. I’ll be sensitive to the needs of the students to discern whatever it takes.

b) principles of the day are dictated by the course outline. I will keep on track to provide a solid foundation for short and long-term assessments such as an up-coming course mid-term, a final exam, an end-of-term national comprehensive exam, a future course that relies on my course as a prerequisite, graduate entry exams and other long-term needs. I hope my students will retain essential concepts and for use in the future, professionally and personally.

c) application to today’s world is an essential part of learning. Chemistry is a central science that affects many parts of our everyday lives. Linking the classroom concepts with the practical side of our lives makes the process of learning fun, informative and effective.


In my opinion, each professor needs to have a philosophy that will work. A canned set of educational terms just isn’t what this is about!