TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Its not been long that I have started my professional endeavour but the
experiences have genuinely helped me holistically. I have learned various things which
have developed my skills, values, beliefs, and goals towards teaching and learning. It is
indeed difficult to refute now that teaching is a noble profession.
I have been living with the idea that learning is a two-way and never ending
process. My former professors have influenced me to embody such idea because this
will remind me to continuously pursue education and excellence. Learning as a two-way
process entails that teachers should not just teach their students but should be willing to
learn from the latter as well. More so, learning should not be confined only within the
four-cornered room; it must adapt to the development of the society. Having instilled
such idea in mind, my teaching philosophy is centered on dynamism, student
development, teachers self-improvement, and democratic-interactive environment.
It is not undisputable that because of inadequate job opportunities there is
competition in the working arena. Thus, it is necessary for the graduates to be equipped
with sufficient skills and commendable values necessary to be employed. In this regard,
I believe that it is important for the teachers to employ methods which could help the
students become adaptive to the development of the society. In my Philippine
Constitution class for instance, I used to ask students involving questions relevant to
current issues and poses questions which are debatable. In such manner, they are able
to provide their progressive ideas on certain issues and such activities help them
develop critical thinking.
It must be considered that the paramount objective of teaching is the
development of the students. To attain this, it is necessary for the teachers to set
specific standards and expectations from the very first day of class. Anent to this, it is
also important to provide them with positive reinforcements in order to fully assist them
in the discovery of their potentials.
As it is of my belief that learning is a two-way process, it must be taken into
account that teachers must be willing to learn from their students, their colleagues, and
the day-to-day working experience. As a new professor of this University and as a
neophyte in the professional realm, I recognize the evaluations by the Chairperson and
the Dean as necessary tool for me to improve. To further assess myself, I have even
required my students to evaluate me without compelling them to have their names
written on the paper. All of these could aid me as I seek to discover my potential and
become a better teacher.
I also promote a democratic and interactive atmosphere because it will lead to a
positive learning environment. This setting allows the students to freely share their ideas
to their classmates and to the teacher, as well. Nevertheless, I believe that teachers
play an important role in harnessing the potentials of our students; thus, effective
teaching styles should be employed in order to bring about that inner potential inherent
to every distinct and unique individual. It is for this reason that teaching is a noble
profession. It takes time, effort, and passion.