What is your teaching philosophy?

In a world that is becoming increasingly more violent, more complex, and more fast-paced, it is absolutely essential that society produces individuals who have both the mental and emotional intelligence to combat these ever-changing forces. That is, society must ensure that students are prepared to take their places as tomorrow and today's leaders. This will not be accomplished by having students memorize loads of academic content espoused in some book--only to be regurgitated on an exam; rather, it will come from invigorating students with the passion needed to explore and invent. Students must be encouraged to THINK! So, when I am teaching and tutoring students, that is always my primary goal. I motivate my students to find the answers themselves and to understand the implications of their solutions. Moreover, due to the frequency of sessions I have with my students and the additional learning tools that I provide outside of my sessions, students are required to engage in this critical thinking process repeatedly. One should make no mistake, though--this is a very challenging and daunting task. In the beginning students will be shocked because they have never been required to think at the levels that I expect. For these reasons, it is my job as the facilitator of their learning to help them to "fake it until [they] become it." In this way, students become the thinkers they want to be, as well as the leaders that society most desperately needs.