Philosophy
My instructional philosophy is grounded by relationships, analysis, and evolution.
Through my experience in education with young learners and adults, I have found that people learn best and work with the greatest diligence when they feel their efforts are appreciated and the instruction has value to their own lives.
Educators, trainers, and instructors are often influencers. The way they interact with their learners impacts the way that course participants interact with each other. All learners deserve to feel they are capable of reaching their target objective. It is an educator or trainer's responsibility to foster feelings of academic confidence through concerted and deliberate instructional efforts and differentiation.
When referring to analysis as being a key component to my educational philosophy, I am not simply suggesting concrete data analysis. Teaching involves an ongoing personal analysis of the instructor's practice– how they deliver and assess content. The most effective instructors analyze their learners and determine if they are interested and engaged, making quick adjustments if needed. Teaching also encompasses carefully reviewing the physical learning environment, external factors affecting their learners, and the alignment of resources with learning objectives. Without this frequent reflection, instruction has a tendency to become stagnant and standardized when it should actually be iterative and fluid, changing with need.
Educators, and instructional designers have the gift of being able to learn something new professionally every day. The field(s) of eLearning and Instructional Design is rapidly changing to suit the present. It is important in to believe new technologies, programs, and instructional trends are assets to the field. Instructional Designers must be willing to evolve with new trends and embrace possible learning curves. Increasing numbers of learners, whether adult or adolescent, are immersed with technology through personal devices for most aspects of their lives. Educators can and should learn to tap into that immersion, in doing so strengthening their instruction and comfortability with educational technology.
In summary, my philosophy states that a teacher can be most effective if they believe enough in their instructional craft to keep pushing forward, reflecting, and evolving with changes in education while developing meaningful relationships with their students.