Benjamin Roulston

Teaching Overview

As teachers, we influence more than just the direct education of our students. For some, we are their first introduction to higher education or a particular field. For others, we may be the last science course they take in their formal education. For hopefully a few, we may inspire them to pursue a lifelong career in our fields, which undoubtedly happened to each of us at some point. Whatever the outcome, students' interactions with their professors and classes undoubtedly leave a mark on their education and future. As such, it is imperative that we not only be their teachers, but also their mentors and guides, in exploring their education.

My teaching philosophy centers around the idea that students learn more effectively when they are engaged with the material and participate in their education. The key here is constructing classes in such a way as to cover the typical material needed (think usual lectures of the needed concepts, equations, theorems, derivations) combined with example use of those principles, so students see and, most importantly, do the real-world analysis needed. My goal as an instructor is to instill a sense of appreciation and confidence in students' science abilities and to give them the reasoning and analytical skills necessary to understand and partake in astronomy or physics.

Below, I include anonymous student teaching evaluations for myself from all courses that I have ever taught.