Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Bill Burke Associate Director Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) Adjunct Faculty, Biology

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement What is a teaching philosophy statement? A reflective essay on your conception of teaching and learning and how you operationalize those beliefs Why write one?

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Reflective practice – a continual examination and enhancement of your teaching Part of a personal portfolio These statements are – Private Diagnostic Ongoing Feedback for your improvement Used to make personal decisions Formative Reasons

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Needed for an academic job application Part of a tenure and promotion dossier Documentation for a teaching award Often part of a teaching portfolio These statements are – Public Sources of documentation Used for personnel decisions Summative Reasons

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Should show – Who and what you teach Your teaching goals Student learning outcomes How you teach and assess your students Why you teach that way Specific examples of implementation

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Developing a Philosophy of Teaching Statement (Chism, 1998) A good philosophy statement contains – Your conceptualization of learning and teaching How do you see yourself as a teacher? What role do you play in the classroom? How do you think students learn best in your discipline? Goals for your students What learning outcomes do you want for your students? Implementation of your philosophy How do you put your philosophy into practice? Professional growth plan Do you show evidence that you reflect on your teaching, learn from it, and are open to making changes?

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Characteristics No one set format Generally 1 – 2 pages in length Use present tense and first person Write with the audience in mind Who is going to read this and for what purpose? Use technical terms and jargon judiciously

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Provide a few specific examples Let the reader "see" you in the classroom Make it reflective and personal Make it memorable and unique What sets your philosophy and practice apart? Own your philosophy These are your beliefs about teaching and learning Link your philosophy to your practice

Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Two Good Resources These two web sites are particularly good for giving advice, providing examples, and linking to other resources The Ohio State University University Center for the Advancement of Teaching University of Michigan Center for Research in Learning and Teaching