Title: About your Instructor
Course: Dev_TOPKIT_SAMPLE_COURSE_Bauer_S_67

ANT2511 - Human Species
Amanda Groff

About your Instructor

Hey folks!!! My name is Amanda Groff and I am an instructor with the UCF Anthropology Department. I have been teaching here several years and love this university.

My academic focus is archaeology, osteology, Maya studies, physical anthropology and gender studies. Although some of my interests are interdisciplinary, my true passion is archaeology.

I have conducted archaeological fieldwork in the countries of Belize, Egypt, and here in the U.S.. If anyone needs guidance concerning a career in anthropology or archaeology I am happy to give advice. I have been through it all!!!!

I currently teach Sex Gender and Culture, Magic, Ritual and Belief, Human Species, and Mesoamerican Archaeology. I hope you enjoy this class!!!

Please feel free to contact me at amanda.groff@ucf.edu.
My Teaching Philosophy.....

I believe that teaching is reciprocal; in order for one to be a great teacher they must be willing to learn from those they are teaching. Therefore, my teaching philosophy is based upon these certain concepts.

Engage:

Frequently, students come to the class and simply copy verbatim what that instructor is teaching. I believe that true learning involves active thinking. Therefore, the best classrooms are those where the teacher and students learn from each other. Open discussions are key to classroom learning.

Challenge:

Teaching should challenge both the teacher and the student. Teachers should be challenged to deliver course materials and lectures from different perspectives. The student should be challenged by the teacher and the course materials.

Individuality:

Teachers should recognize individuality in their students. Every student has a personal story, as well as thoughts and feelings that they can bring with them to the classroom and the learning process.

Question:

All too often, students regard instructors as the final authority on any and all lecture material. I believe students should be encouraged to question the course material and its validity. No scientific progress has ever been made without questioning.

Passion:

I believe that in order to be a good teacher one must be passionate about the topic they are teaching. And in that respect, they must be equally passionate about communicating that topic to others.

Communication:

Effective teaching involves the ability to convey information to students in such a way that they will understand it, but additionally be able to then think about the subject and apply it someway to their lives.

Humor:

Lastly, I believe that every successful teacher must have humor. Laughter goes a long way in showing the students that the teacher is just a person, like themselves.

This page was last updated on May 2, 2011 3:57 PM
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