Statement Of Teaching Philosophy (SOTP)

When I started my teaching career, my view of teaching, was as of a transmission of knowledge, a reflection of the teaching that I had myself received in both school, college and at university. And I have always believed that a scientifically literate society is a better society, and as a Engineering and Scientific teacher I have a passion for contributing by clearly communicating the Engineering and scientific ideas and methods to my students. My goal is to create a learning environment where students develop the knowledge and tools they need to succeed as undergraduates and later in life as Engineers.

One of the greatest benefits of learning Engineering, is the development of techniques for investigation and critical thinking along with developing an ability for problem identification and developing an approach for problem solving. However, it is common for students of Engineering to face a disconnect between what they are learning in the classroom and what they imagine when they see the real world, that they can use that knowledge for solving the real world engineering problems given to them. I believe that bridging this disconnect for students is a major factor in their learning process, which I support by the approach by giving the students the required context for the material, creating cohesion among topics, considering appropriate learning goals, making the students active participants in their learning of the subjects. And as the students start to develop answers for the real world problems, they will not only be able to solve a problem but also to explain why it needs to be solved. And I do follow a diversity of teaching techniques for different engineering subjects which is very vital because of the differences in student learning styles.

In the pursuit of improving my teaching is a lifelong learning commitment, because excellence in teaching is not just a result of talent but is predominantly a collection of practiced skills. In the classroom, I can push myself to try new techniques and adapt my teaching based on student feedback. I will also seek out conversations with more established professors and industry experts and read education journals on Engineering to improve and increase my knowledge horizon. Improving my teaching to create the best possible learning environment will help my students develop into a well informed and engaged learners and finally into good Engineers.