The term learning is the act or process by which behavioral change, knowledge, skills, and attitudes are acquired. In that sense, adult education might change human behavior, help person to change society, to mature, to explore new ideas, etc. My goal is to prepare adult learners for extraordinary purpose and to motivate them to use their potential. To be able to provide the best quality of teaching, I will utilize different teaching strategies and learning principles. I am aware that I am in charge of how and what I teach; students are in charge of their own learning.
Ideas of Learning in Higher Education
My ideas of learning derive from the constructivism and collaborativism. I consider that learners have to be actively engaged (constructivism; learner - centered paradigm) in the creation of knowledge. An instructor supports his students by assuming that adult learners are able to learn better when they alone discover something new. At the same time, I affirm that certain knowledge is best to be shared among learners (collaborativism; multiple learners) including communication, listening, and participation.
Desired Outcomes when Teaching
My aim is to develop student competencies, to provide students with an appropriate knowledge related to various issues in higher education, and to introduce students various teaching theories and strategies. To be able to accomplish desired outcomes, I will apply the following teaching strategies: lectures, case studies, student presentations, role play, discussion, video presentation, practical exercises, film, etc.
Diversity Issues in the Classroom in Higher Education
My role, as an instructor, is to help students to understand the issues related to diversity and multiculturalism. In that sense, I strongly advocate that all students in higher education have to have equal opportunity to learn regardless of their gender, age, race, or social status. At the same time, I value co-operation rather than competition among the different group of students in higher education.
Teaching Outcomes and Student Learning Connection
Teaching outcomes and student learning might be connected in different ways. One way is to give the students the opportunity to conduct research projects which allow students to demonstrate an ability to define and conceptualize the required course elements. In addition, I will have them to write critical article reviews in order to demonstrate the ability to argue and critique different authors. Third, to connect teaching outcomes and student learning students will write essays on required topic. In that sense, I want to challenge students to conduct literature reviews in order to defend their own arguments.
Teaching Effectiveness Evaluation
There are many ways to evaluate teaching effectiveness. This has to be according to institutional standards. I consider three ways of teaching effectiveness evaluation including peer reviews, self-evaluation, and student evaluations. These evaluations are for the purpose of the development of the effective teaching skills, seeing self through the own (instructor’s) eyes, and measuring teaching quality. The evaluation is also for the purpose of quality assurance in education which is recognized worldwide by institutions of higher education.