Elizabeth Arroyo, EdD, MSN, BSN, RN, PCCN
Assistant Professor of Nursing
My decision to pursue a career in teaching is due, in part, to my intrinsic desire to make a positive impact on the life of a student. Throughout my life, I have encountered numerous obstacles and challenges, but one thing I found comfort in was education. I felt a sense of empowerment and strength when I was able to better my life by using the tools I learned from school. I want to give this power back to those who feel they have none. Whether it is accomplishing a degree or simply making a better decision in their lives, education can motivate students to make these steps.
Biography
A teaching philosophy is a personal narrative essay that is a self-reflection of an individual’s core values of teaching and learning (CRLT, 2017). It is my belief that through education, an individual will receive the vital skills and tools that are necessary to build a life that is successful and prosperous. Within an educational setting, students should be continuously encouraged to solve problems similar to those they will encounter outside of school. This instills in them the skills necessary to become flexible problem solvers in preparation for their adult lives. I believe that, as teachers, it is our duty to ensure that learning takes place in a safe, open, and supportive environment so that the students learn the important aspects of developing and fostering positive relationships with others.
The teaching philosophy that I choose to believe in focuses on the development of learners by targeting Bloom’s taxonomy of learning; which ensures that every learner understands content, but has the ability to apply, analyze, process, implement, and evaluate what they have learned (Svinicki etal., 2014 p. 10). As instructors we can only promote learning by reflecting and improving on our own knowledge of teaching styles, practice models, ethics, due process, scholarship, and service.
Teaching is a noble and highly rewarding profession in which one is able to directly affect change in the lives of others and I cannot think of a better way to contribute to the betterment of society. During my journey toward the realization of my dream of becoming an educator, there have been many people who have helped me establish my career goals and objectives, including family members. I am a first generation, educator and have grown up in an environment in which education was considered paramount to my future success.
I understand the importance of using instructional strategies that appropriately address the different learning styles and needs in order to become an effective educator. Consequently, it is also extremely important to determine each student’s dominant learning style and continually monitor each student’s academic progress. This can be done through a variety of assessments which can aid in the planning of instruction that draws upon each student’s success, both academically and emotionally.
The wholistic process of educating is more than relaying information to a student. It is viewing the student as a whole, of who they are as a creation of God. Success in the mind, body, and spirit is key to learning success with learners. My teaching philosophy looks to empower the learner by discovering these different parts of themselves to guide their learning. An empowered learner is a learner who holds a firm grasp of their future.
To conclude, my goal as an educator is to instill a passion for learning in my students by providing them with an educational environment that is encouraging and positive. I hope to provide the skills and tools necessary for success and foster the individual talents of each student, giving them the confidence to embrace their dreams and make them a reality just as I have for myself.
Education
EdD, Capella University, Doctorate of Adult Education, 2022
MSN, Capella University, Masters of Nursing Science, 2019
BSN, Southeastern University, Bachelors of Science in Nursing, 2018