Pedagogical Statement

My entry into the academy as a professional member includes a life-long journey of learning. As an avid experiential learner, my teaching philosophy reflects a belief that students bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into classrooms that when incorporated into learning objectives enrich both the learning and teaching experience. My approach to teaching is centered in relating theoretical concepts to students’ real-life experiences. It is my experience, as both a learner and facilitator, that filtering topics through an open dialogue which encourages students to reflect upon their own experiences to illustrate learning promotes greater engagement and enriches both online and in-person instruction.

I engage students through a mix of lecture, discussion, and use of multimedia in online and in-person learning environments. I find this blend has promoted in-depth conversation and encouraged prolonged engagement with topics. The online teaching environment poses particular challenges to maintaining student engagement which I address through a creative use of in-session chat features, animated video lectures, and discussion posts. As an Africana Studies and media scholar, I incorporate media texts from Black popular culture production into lecture materials and discussion. I use multimedia technology to further immerse students into content learning and theoretical application through cultural and social experiences of group activity.

I actively encourage the intellectual contributions of all students as a part of curating a culturally dynamic, safe learning environment where all identities and experiences are valued and welcomed as co-participants in the learning. During class facilitations, I routinely invite students who have speak less often to share their perspectives as a way to reduce the conversation being dominated by a limited few. In an effort to maintain the conductivity of such an environment, I moderate and lead class discussion to ensure that multiple perspectives are shared and debated in a respectful manner. As a new instructor, I do not possess an extensive record of teaching evaluation. However, informal evaluations have illustrated that students respond to the ways I engage them personally. Students report feeling comfortable in the learning environments I have created and encouraged to share their insights gained through personal and mediated experiences with topics related to representations of race, gender, sexual identity and expression within visual culture, Black popular culture, traditional media, new media, and social media.