Lesson 2: State your teaching philosophy
Identifying your beliefs
Begin your teaching philosophy statement by reflecting on and articulating your key beliefs about teaching and learning.
Activity
By the end of this activity, you should have 2-3 beliefs that will be the foundation of your teaching dossier. Hint – if this is the first time you are writing a philosophy statement, 2-3 beliefs are enough.
You can succinctly state your beliefs by completing the statement “I believe students learn best by..."
Draft your teaching philosophy statement
You have reflected on and identified your beliefs about teaching and learning and now it is time to start drafting your teaching philosophy statement.
After completing the worksheet above and identifying your beliefs, start filling in the "Framework for aligning a teaching philosophy statement" worksheet below to write a rough draft or outline of your teaching philosophy statement. Remember, writing is an iterative process and you will likely need to edit your statement several times.
If necessary, revisit the philosophy statement examples and after you have a draft of your philosophy statement, connect with a peer, supervisor, or book a consultation with a Taylor Institute staff member for feedback.
References
Haave, N. (2014). Six questions that will bring your teaching philosophy into focus. Faculty Focus, https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/philosophy-of-teaching/six-questions-will-bring-teaching-philosophy-focus/
Kenny, N., Berenson, C., Jeffs, C., Nowell, L., & Grant, K. (2018). Teaching philosophies and teaching dossiers guide. Calgary, AB: Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. https://taylorinstitute.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/Teaching%20Philosophies%20and%20Teaching%20Dossiers%20Guide.pdf
Schonwetter, D., Sokal, L., Friesen, M., & Taylor, KL. (2002). Teaching philosophies reconsidered: A conceptual model for the development and evaluation of teaching philosophy statements. International Journal for Academic Development, 7(1), 83-97, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13601440210156501
Lesson checklist
- Recognize the role of the philosophy statement in the teaching dossier
- Identify your beliefs about how students learn and how these beliefs inform how you teach
- Complete the first draft of your philosophy statement
More lessons
Lesson 3: Situate your teaching context
Lesson 4: Identify the components of your dossier
