My philosophy of teaching is based upon an authentic interest in biology, a deep... care for the success of my students, and the belief that my students can rise to or exceed my high expectations. I know that all students are capable of high standards of learning. I promote a positive atmosphere in my class. My greatest reward is seeing students acquire a deep understanding of biology and I know that this will only happen if I capture their imagination and stimulate their curiosity. I make the effort to see the world from a student’s perspective in general, and to the extent possible, consider individual student’s circumstances. I work to help students do their best given their individual situations. I believe helping students form new connections within the context of biology is very important. To achieve this goal, I work to facilitate four primary connections for my students: connecting my students with me as the instructor, connecting my students with the material, connecting my students with each other, and connecting my students to the world around them. It is my hope that the connections I help my students form will not only give them the skills and experience to be successful in their individual careers, but that these connections will be long-lasting and will help shape how they engage with society. read more