Teaching

My Teaching Philosophy

Learning should be transformative

Learning is a two-way process as we expose our existing ways of knowing to new ways of knowing to transform our view of the world.

Learning should be participative

Students learn best when they are active participants, not passive observers. I encourage them to pose questions so they can explore ways to find answers and understand different perspectives when there are no defined answers.

Learning should be reflexive

I want students to be reflexive learners; to question, reinterpret, and confidently reassess current ways of knowing and doing.

'Science in Society' courses at the University of Auckland

Communicating for a Knowledge Society

Effective communication is required for specialists in all fields to engage meaningfully with society. In this course students gain an understanding of the important role communication plays in a knowledge society. Through case studies and practical experience students learn about the responsibilities and skills required to communicate with a variety of audiences. They learn how to effectively manage and present data and practice oral, written and visual communication.

Innovating for a Knowledge Society

This stage 2 course develops students' understanding of science as innovation. It equips students with knowledge, skills and understandings needed to engage and innovate in today's knowledge society. It provides an interdisciplinary examination of science innovation at policy, organisational and project levels to understand the context for innovation and the impacts and roles of business and research organisations in science innovation. Students explore case studies to investigate how innovation is both enabled and constrained in science-based organisations and ways innovations are presented to, and then received by, end-users.

Engaging in a Knowledge Society