Andrea Ramirez Barajas

In my teaching, I strive to incorporate the following three pillars of my teaching philosophy. First, teaching students to mentor fellow students in learning. In my classroom, my students and I are collaborators in their learning process. I am an experienced collaborator in this learning environment; therefore, I present them with research and personal learning experiences for them to be able to grasp the course material. I aim for my students to view learning as a collaborative learning approach instead of being taught at. I support students sharing their personal experiences during the learning process and by doing so, our classroom becomes a place of shared knowledge. By fostering this collaborative environment among students, students create long lasting critical skills that they will use after my classroom.

 

My second pillar is to create an inclusive and diverse course design.  As an instructor (and a student not so long ago), I have seen how impactful it is for students’ academic performance when the class design is accessible to all students. Therefore, as an instructor, I assume that students face unique challenges during their academic journey and plan accordingly to support each student.

 

Finally, I strive to foster a sense of belongingness in the classroom environment. As a first-generation Latina instructor,  I aim to establish a sense of belonging in my classes by conveying approachability and framing our classroom as a community.