Over the course of our professional careers, we have taught a variety of courses to a diverse group of students.  During this time, we have come to recognize the importance of having a well-defined teaching philosophy—a pedagogy that shapes our relationships with students, colleagues, and the general public.  Our teaching philosophy is ultimately a product of our experiences with students, interaction with other educators and researchers, and our own personalities, values, and interests.  We truly believe that a teaching philosophy is not just a set of rules for the effective transfer of information to students. Rather, it is a dynamic paradigm designed to give students the skills necessary to think independently and critically about diverse topics, to become effective communicators and capable researchers, to ask probing and critical questions, to understand significant concepts, and of utmost importance to become life-long learners.

To be an effective teacher, one must make a concerted effort to connect with students.  Without this connection, students often feel lost or forgotten.  Teachers who build a relationship with their students create an environment conducive to learning—an environment in which students feel much more comfortable asking questions and approaching the teacher for help.  Getting to know students and continuing to help them once they graduate (e.g., writing letters of recommendation, finding internship and job opportunities, and communicating as peers) is one of the many rewards of the teaching profession.  We take great pride in the amount of time we are able to spend with our students and it is through this direct interaction that we are able to forge relationships with our students that continue well after they leave academia. 

Finally, we believe that educators must be willing to take pedagogical risks and look for new and innovative ways to promote student learning. Developing a new lesson plan or student assessment strategy, assigning a new exercise or field activity, identifying a pressing community service project, and finding a new course destination are just a few examples of how we ensure our programs are current, challenging, effective, and fun.  The vast majority of our students enjoy being part of something new and most have never fully experienced the nature and culture of place. Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and it is our goal to train students so they can think critically about issues important to the long-term health of our planet.