Exemplary Teaching Practices and Philosophies
R. Elaine Turner
Download Dr. Turner's biography
"My greatest desire as a teacher is to create a climate in the classroom that allows students to motivate themselves to learn. I strive to create opportunities for students to experience the course material on a personal level through projects, classroom activities and games, and real-world assignments. My best semesters are those when I feel I emotionally engaged with the students and the subject. The class and I are in a certain rhythm, and the result is music-the blending of knowledge of nutrition and excitement in learning-for all of us.
My general view of the relationship between student, course content, and teacher is that I function as the guide or facilitator to help the student master the content. I want every student to be successful, and believe that each one can be. This interest in the well-being of each student then governs how I approach teaching a specific class.
One of the greatest tragedies in the undergraduate experience is having a professor you are afraid of. As an academic advisor, I hear of these situations from students almost weekly. In addition to my regular, posted office hours, I maintain an open-door policy for students in my classes, my advisees, and others. Students feel free to approach me before and after class, in my office, and even outside the campus. These conversations can be opportunities to explain concepts in a different way or review key terms and advance learning. Some colleagues might say that spending so much time with students doesn't allow me to 'get my work done,' but I view such interactions as a major part of my work."