Lynn University

My philosophy of teaching is that learning is best facilitated by an instructor who balances sound theory with solid industry experience. For example, my teaching of hospitality accounting and tourism development is facilitated by my experience working for a hospitality-related public accounting firm and serving as a director of development for a hospitality management company. I actively seek to create a student-centered classroom where students participate in directing their objectives where I act as a “guide by the side” rather than a “sage on the stage.” I also try to integrate several different methods in my classroom that accommodate my students' various learning styles, including short lectures, problem-solving exercises or small group sessions. I strive to create a classroom environment that is flexible enough to accommodate my students’ needs, and I have found that technology, especially computer-mediated communication, can be a valuable tool in creating this environment. Online discussions via Blackboard can allow students who are not comfortable with voicing their opinions orally in the classroom to think through their responses and contribute to the conversation while also providing practice with written communication. I encourage my students to take an active role in the classroom. Clear objectives guide my class lessons and assignments, and I believe that students should be able to determine when they have mastered them while realizing that the development of accounting skills takes time. Ultimately, students should learn to seek new learning experiences and direct their own education, and I encourage this life-long learning process.