Learning Through Teaching

Abstract:

Teaching is often undervalued in the sciences. Even when being a teaching assistant is required by the academic program, most students and their advisors just want the student to be done with it so they can focus on research. Teaching is viewed as a time-consuming distraction. While there is some truth to this - research is central to the PhD program - more attention should be paid to what the (student) teacher can learn from teaching. Because teaching requires the teacher to thoroughly know and understand the material, it is an ideal method for learning a new discipline. This presentation will discuss how to learn from teaching in any context, formal or informal. To do so requires not only learning the information but also having multiple ways to explain it. Additionally, it is beneficial to know how to use questions, from both students and teacher, to evaluate one's understanding of the material and to fill in any existing knowledge gaps. While not all students have the opportunity to teach or TA a formal class, they can still get the same benefits from teaching informally or learning to essentially be their own teacher. Even just talking with friends or writing a blog can go a long way towards teaching others, and yourself, a new subject.