As technologies and the sciences that drive them are becoming more prevalent every day I believe that, whether or not students pursue studies in STEM, physics and math education prepares students with an important set of skills everyone will find relevant and, with some clarification, anyone can enjoy. Physics gives artists balance and dimension, provides programmers a basis for simulation, grants engineers the ability to solve any problem in the universe, and, naturally, makes the world go round. Even when stepping out of physics, mastery of a subject any subject, empowers students with critical thinking and problem solving skills that will get them anywhere they want to go.
Unfortunately, the subject of physics carries a notion of preconceived difficulty among many students and, as a result, students are reluctant to learn or are filled with self doubt. It is my hope to clear the air of some of the myths and to teach in a way that each students' own curiosity drives the learning process. We are all life long students and, in my experience, learning happens during those "aha!" moments. So while passively engaging students with lectures certainly has its place in the classroom, actively engaging students through actual problem solving, labs, and thinking exercises is where they have the chance to ask and even answer the right questions.
The art of teaching is as complex as students are diverse in their needs and interests. With a well planned combination of assessment standards, classroom management, and appropriate individual and group challenges, it is a teacher's responsibility to ensure every student is adequately prepared for the world of tomorrow. Utilizing everything at my disposal and spending time with students, I wish to instill the same sense of wonder and drive I get from everything around us, from the rules that make the world tick and for the sense of logical progression you gain from knowing them.
In defining my purpose for teaching physics, I've only reminded myself how passionate I am about the subject, reinforced its importance, and its eye opening wonders that I aim to share with students by helping them build on the scientific process and their critical thinking skills. I believe that the methodologies behind teaching successfully are as dynamic as the content itself, in that it's always changing. With that said, I intend to employ research-proven strategies, assessment tools, and to individually cater every student's course of study.