StatementofTeaching–MichaelWilder

Atheart,Iamaneducator.Althoughmyexperienceshaveguidedmedownmanypathsincludingonlineeducationandtechnology,itisteachingthatformsthebasisofmypassion.TheconvictionthatIammakingapositiveimpactonsomeone’slifethrougheducationmotivatesmetochoosethisprofessionasmycalling.

Asaneducator,myteachingphilosophyistemperedbyyearsofexperience,mentoring,andeducationaltheory.FrommyearlydaysasahighschoolEnglishteacherininner-cityLosAngelestoyearsprovidingmentoringandtraininginauniversity-levelteachingandlearningcentertomycurrentassignmentsteachinghighereducationjournalismcoursesatUNLV,Ihavemadeaconsciousefforttoalwaysimprovemytechnique.Ibelievethatteachingandlearningshouldbestudentcentered,engaging,active,andpersonal.

Myteachingphilosophyishighlyinfluencedbylearningtheory.IbelieveinfollowingGagne’sNineEventsofInstructionduringalesson:elicitingpriorknowledge,facilitatinginteractionbetweenallcourseparticipants,andprovidingstudentswithopportunitiestopracticewhattheyhavelearned(withsuitablefeedback)priortoassessment.Ibelieveinbeingawareofthelimitationsofhumancognitivearchitectureanddesigninginstructionthatisappropriatetomatchtheselimitations.Ialsobelievethatteachingandlearningisasocialactivity.Wealllearnfromeachother.

Myprimarylearningobjectivesrevolvearound21stcenturyskillsforcontemporarylearners:collaborationandteamwork,creativityandimagination,flexibilityandadaptability,criticalthinking,andproblemsolving.Ibelievethatwhilecanonicaleducationalcontentisimportantforlearnersinordertobeculturallyandtechnologicallyliterate,Ialsobelievethatthevalueofknowledgeiscontextualandeverchanging.Skillsthatprovidestudentswiththeopportunitytoworktogether,toseekoutrelevantknowledge,tobepreparedtoevaluatethevalidityofthatknowledge,andtobeabletoapplythatknowledgeinnovelways,willpreparestudentstoadapttothemanychangesthatwefaceincontemporarysociety.

ThesecorephilosophieshaveinfluencedhowIteachInteractiveMediaDesign(bothintroductoryandadvanced)fortheUNLVSchoolofJournalism.Instructionisscaffolded,providingaframeworkthatallowsstudentstoexploreandseekknowledgethatisrelevantandapplicabletotheirprofessionalareaofinterest.Oncestudentsbecomeproficientwiththeessentialtoolsandtechniquesprovidedintheintroductorycourse,theyaregiventheopportunitytoselectlearningpathsthatareadaptive,active,andrelevant.

Usingmultiuserbloggingtechniques,Ihavedevelopedaninnovativelearningenvironmentwherestudentsareabletoproducearticlesforonlinepublicationthatencouragespeerreviewandcollaboration.Studentsareprovidedwiththetoolstotakeownershipoftheirlearningenvironment,customizingittosuittheirneedsandabilities.Studentshaverespondedveryfavorablyintestimonialsandinstudentevaluations.Thestructureofthiscoursehasreceivedtheprestigious“EffectivePractice”awardfromtheOnlineLearningConsortium.