KATE MAGARGAL

My primary objective as a teacher is to guide students to become critical, process- and system- oriented thinkers who can apply their knowledge. I bring an investigative and collaborative approach to the classroom that includes 1) exploration of the history, methods, and theory behind what we know, 2) exploration of personal and societal relevance, and 3) active, student-guided activities that prepare students to be self-motivated lifelong learners who are fully engaged in their chosen path. I think students best realize these goals when the learning environment is active, inclusive, and empowering.

My teaching style involves a variety of activities. We begin the semester by getting to know each other a bit and creating some tools to help organize ourselves in the classroom in ways that keep things fresh throughout the term. During my classes, students read widely and explore topics in depth via lectures from me and invited guests, games, and occasional field trips. Students are often asked to work in small groups to synthesize knowledge together and share it with the class via creative presentations. My goal is to create a dynamic classroom environment where you are likely to find familiar styles of learning as well as ones that ask you to grow. The contemporary landscape of knowledge and practice on the topics I teach is constantly shifting, therefore students and I often get a chance to learn and process together as new information, policies, technologies, and critical perspectives unfold.