Teaching Statement

I have always believed that the best learning comes not only through reading and attending lectures but also through observing and experiencing the world. In my classroom, I not only provide the best scholarly literature available, but I also have my students experience what they are learning firsthand. The use of lectures, video documentation, keynote slides, trips outside of the classroom, discussions, hands-on activities, and guest lectures provide students with a multifaceted and interactive experience. I hope that by using this kind of diversity in teaching I will be able to reach students with different learning styles.

I believe that my teaching skills are constantly evolving. Sometimes I try new strategies in the classroom that are successful, and other times they do not go as well as planned. Although it is tiring at times, I believe that it is important to take risks in my classroom and always to reflect on my teaching practice. One successful example occurred when I was giving a lecture about Chinese preschool. I often struggle to help students understand the core of Confucianism, the amount of control and perfection that takes place. It is very difficult to explain verbally what the experience is like. This particular occasion I decided to have students try to write Chinese characters as children in China would do. I explained how they were to sit, how they were to hold the calligraphy brush and how they were to move the ink. Students told me later that it was a powerful experience that helped them understand a different approach to childhood curriculum. Over the past six years at Tufts I have taught an undergraduate seminar course, and I have served as a lead teaching assistant in many areas. In this role, I not only conducted my own sections, but I also would give class lectures when the faculty member was unavailable. I have been fortunate to observe numerous faculty members teach. This opportunity allowed me to learn from a group of diverse and qualified faculty members. I am capable of teaching the following courses: Developmental Psychology, Cultural Psychology, Personal and Social Development, Introduction to Child Development, Introduction to Psychology, Cognitive Development, Parent and Child Relationships, and Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods. I have received high ratings from both students and faculty for my work in the classroom. Many students have noted in written course evaluation comments how important the hands-on experiences were.

In addition to my commitment to students in the classroom I believe it is important to have a connection to students outside the classroom. For this reason my office door has always been open to students. During my undergraduate days at the College for the Holy Cross the faculty believed in supporting their students to become "men and women for others." This motto left a great impression on me. For this reason I continue to develop many community events at my university for students and faculty to participate in together. Often these experiences are connected to students' course work. I want students to leave my classes with the understanding that they are learning something that is useful in a real world setting.