Earth Science with Philip O.

My name is Philip O'Brien and I have just graduated from Texas Tech University with a Master’s degree in Geosciences with a concentration in Geology. I have also been a tennis instructor, amateur gamer, and poker player. At its most fundamental level, teaching is the act of imparting knowledge upon another person. For me, the most important part of teaching is to ensure that the student understands what is being taught and has the ability to use that knowledge, especially in applications beyond the classroom. As a teacher, I have developed the ability to teach to a wide range of students with different learning styles by using multiple strategies such as examples, individual and group activities, further explanation and break-downs of information. I also find it important to explain to my students why the information I am teaching them is relevant and important. Furthermore, I can relate to my students (and therefore better teach them) because I am not so far removed from my experiences as an undergraduate and a graduate student. In addition, I have learned how to appeal to non-major students who may not be as invested or passionate for the subject as others. In my experience as both a teacher and a student, it is a common problem for non-major students to fall behind in classes that do not interest them or that they do not excel in. In order to prevent this from becoming a problem, I focus on keeping them engaged and helping them understand by breaking information down into simpler portions, presenting visual representations, discussing examples, and teaching in a way that anybody can understand. I also like to have my students work on activities individually and in groups to reinforce the information given to them, as well as give presentations to their fellow classmates to demonstrate what they have learned. I believe the process of critical thinking is more valuable than simply asking students to regurgitate information, and try to incorporate this as much as possible to help my students succeed. Over the past year, I was the captain of a sports club at Texas Tech University. I found this experience helpful to me as a teacher because it facilitated my ability to devise a way to teach to a diverse group of individuals. Like students in a classroom, some players have more experience than others and do not learn in the same way. This experience emphasized how important these individual differences are. However, I found out that I cannot spend the time it takes to teach each and every student or player individually. Therefore, I use different means of teaching as a captain and as a teacher in order to make sure that no student gets left behind and that each is taught in a way that he or she can learn from. Though I have had success as a teacher, I could improve my preparation for classes. I found it challenging to prepare for classes as well as I would have liked to while I was a student myself. I hope to eradicate this weakness by dedicating as much time as necessary for my students to receive the quality of education that they should get. Successful learning means that the student cannot only recall appropriate information when needed, but is also able to work with that information to succeed in a job or other responsibility. It is important for a student to participate in activities supplementing lectures (in order to better understand the theory being taught and applications of theory). It is also essential for a successful student to know how to research and find information outside of the classroom. Otherwise, the only information the student will ever learn is that which he or she gets from a classroom, which may not be enough for a student to reach his or her full potential. Furthermore, it is also necessary—for both teachers and students—to consider that not all students learn in the same way. Teachers must realize that some students may require more attention or one-on-one interaction in order to succeed, while students must realize that, even if their performance is not up to par with other students’, this does not mean that they cannot succeed. This simply means that both students and teachers must explore alternative means of learning and teaching until a helpful strategy is found. I have experienced a few obstacles in my experience as both a student and a teacher. Past students of mine have not given the proper effort, even the minimal amount (e.g., simply being present for class and submitting assignments), that it takes to do well. This is why we as teachers need to relate to the students interests and to emphasize the relevance of the information being taught. Absence of engagement in the learning experience is also a hindrance to a student’s success, and may lead to distractions. As a student, I have been in classes in which the teacher will simply list off facts or read notes to the class without truly teaching the students. Spending all of my time in class listening to a lecture has not proven to be helpful. Therefore, I like to include many other approaches to teaching to make sure that my students are not becoming disconnected and missing out on the information they need. I am most happy as a teacher when my student is able to piece together information in order to come to a conclusion, especially when the answers are not specifically given in the text or lecture. This shows that the student has the ability and is giving the effort to truly understand the material as opposed to meeting minimal requirements to pass the course. I enjoy helping students excel and hone their skills so that they can be successful in the future and become more productive individuals.