My Teaching Philosophy

The statement above summarizes my approach towards teaching in general. Teachers are constantly learning from their environments, students, peers, family, and so much more. I am not perfect by any stretch and I believe in making that idea of teachers being learners in progress clear to students. In this way, students are able to view their teachers as more approachable individuals. I feel that this is the foundation of a productive classroom, regardless of whether it is online or in-person. When students are able to relate to their teachers on a learner level, they are more likely to be able to view the process of learning as more special.

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Extending this idea further, I prioritize the power of collaboration in the learning environment. Rather than forcing students to memorize material or place importance on individual participation, I value the experience students get from working with one another. Regardless of the subject at hand, there is a lot to gain from working with other students while learning. Students can learn from one another and provide feedback regarding each other's work. Such skills of collaboration are essential for humans to thrive in the workplace and society. As technology changes the landscape of the world around us by influencing almost every part of our existence, it is important to nurture human connection, as it is what sets us apart from the mechanized world. I believe that the classroom is the perfect place for this skill development to take shape.

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My teaching philosophy is rooted in the fact that students should be graded in reference to themselves and their track record of learning. I think focus should be placed on the mastery of skills, which means that each student should be allowed to have a personalized learning journey. Some students might master some topics quicker than others. Rather than penalizing students who might need more time to grasp certain concepts, it is important to let students figure things out in their own pace. A key influence on my belief has been Sal Khan and the way he has modeled Khan Academy to help students learn. As a user of Khan Academy from when I was in elementary school, I have experienced first-hand how the encouraging method of building mastery can promote understanding and a love for learning. Some years ago, I watched Sal give a TED Talk on the same idea and was convinced of its merit. I've included it at the end of this page for you to watch!

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As a Founding Tutor at schoolhouse.world, another one of Sal Khan's initiatives, I was able to put into practice my teaching philosophy for the first time. Being a high school student, I was not sure whether I had enough skills to help others struggling with learning. But, I quickly realized that I could do a good job of teaching as a learner myself. Hence, I think it is helpful to give students the opportunity to teach each other in the classroom. Through discussions and study halls, there are many ways to equip students to display their teaching skills. These opportunities will help students develop their communication skills while boosting content understanding.

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Overall, I do not think there is a one-size fits all teaching philosophy. However, I think the best teaching philosophies give students the freedom to decide their own learning paths as much as possible. The foundation of my teaching philosophy is built on this idea. In the coming years, I hope to continue making necessary modifications to my teaching philosophy to develop it further. In this way, I aim to help many more students thrive!

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