My Teaching Philosophy
I am an environmental engineer who passionately believes that good engineering solutions can make the world a better place. I teach because I believe that developing new engineers is essential to advancing knowledge in the field and because watching someone become excited about the field is so rewarding. My primary objective is to train my students to think like an engineer. Engineers must be able to define complex problems, think of creative solutions, and be able to critically evaluate the solutions to choose the best option. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are absolutely essential to successful engineering design. Engineering concepts must be taught systematically using a hands on approach. It is not possible to learn engineering skills by lecture alone. In the classroom I first introduce a topic through lecture, then solve a design problem together as a team, then provide time for independent problem solving with support as needed, and finally cement the concept using a lab, field trip, real world example, or video. I believe this process embodies Delaware Technical Community College’s Mastery Learning philosophy by incorporating guided, independent, and hands on learning. I work to make my classroom a safe place to test ideas and I encourage early failure. Engineering design is an iterative process and early failure is a necessary part of it. Engineers must evaluate mistakes until they reach an elegant solution. If students are afraid to fail the first time they may never achieve a great design. I measure effectiveness through my students’ ability to think analytically, creatively solve problems, and apply knowledge to real world design. One big indicator of effectiveness is determining whether students have developed an internal gauge of the appropriateness of their solutions. For example, if a student solves a road design problem and determines that a road must be 14 feet thick to meet the design needs, the student should recognize that he or she made a mistake. Another indicator of effectiveness is whether or not a student can look at a difficult question systematically to reach a solution. A successful student is one who isn’t paralyzed by complex problems. My assessments incorporate realistic problems to help gauge these skills. |
Classes Taught
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Teaching TechniquesI believe hands on experience is essential to learning. As a result, I work to incorporate interactive activities including:
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Student ExperienceI work to develop a personal relationship with each of my students in the classroom and through advisement.
Student comments include: "My instructor was kind and knew what she was talking about. Mrs. Mann having worked in the field was the perfect instructor for me." "The instructor is very easy to talk to and has a friendly air to her, and Is always able to be found in her office if you need to have to set a meeting or having trouble in the course." |