Teaching Philosophy
Student success is a foundation for a better future in terms of career potential and personal fulfillment. This success includes individual growth from both a skills-based and a conceptual perspective. As an educator, I help students develop and realize their vision and potential on the path to achieving their goals. The opportunity to offer knowledge, guidance, and inspiration within the classroom environment is both a privilege and responsibility that I embrace. My experiences as an instructor and a student in classes at a variety of institutions, both face-to-face and online, have reinforced my respect for education and shaped my teaching philosophy and approach. My diverse art and design background has provided me with the technical skills, creativity, and perspective needed to be a successful educator and mentor.
In order to provide students with an exceptional learning experience, I focus on versatility, structure, and creativity in my classes. Versatility is important because each student thinks and learns differently and has something unique to offer to the class. By offering a versatile approach, I foster the expansion of perspectives and the sharing of new ideas within the learning environment. Structure helps prepare students for real-world experiences and workplace accountability. I regularly gauge how much is appropriate for a particular class or project so it does not inhibit expression, creative potential, or interest in the subject. Creativity fuels innovation, increases problem-solving techniques, and makes learning more engaging. For each assignment and lesson, I promote creativity by encouraging students to explore new skills, new techniques, or take a unique approach to a challenge.
As an educator and artist, I am constantly evolving in my teaching and personal work, and look forward to sharing my experiences, energy, and motivation in the classroom. With easy access to a plethora of information online, I ensure my students are introduced to current and relevant information that creates a learning experience they cannot find elsewhere. In addition to being an avid reader and learner, creative practices associated with my studio work are constantly evolving and informing my teaching practice. This contributes to the flexibility and diversity of my approach in the classroom. I believe that people are most successful when they have a passion for what they do. Teaching is one of my passions, and I hope to use it to help as many students as possible discover their own passions, expand their skills, and achieve success.
- Kim Pluskota