How do you align your teaching philosophy with your institution's mission?

2 How to identify your teaching philosophy

Your teaching philosophy is a statement of your beliefs and principles about teaching and learning. It reflects your personal and professional identity, your goals and objectives, your methods and strategies, and your assessment and evaluation practices. To identify your teaching philosophy, you can ask yourself questions such as what you want your students to learn and achieve, how you facilitate and support their learning, how you measure and provide feedback on their learning, and how you reflect and improve on your teaching practice. Additionally, you can use tools and frameworks such as the Teaching Perspectives Inventory (TPI), the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) to evaluate your teaching quality and impact, measure your orientation and preferences for teaching and learning, and conduct and disseminate research on your teaching and learning practices and outcomes.

3 How to identify your institution's mission

In order to identify your institution's mission, you should read and analyze its official mission statement, vision statement, strategic plan, and other documents that express its core values and objectives. Additionally, you can observe and participate in its activities, events, and initiatives that demonstrate its mission and vision in action. Furthermore, it is beneficial to consult and collaborate with its leaders, administrators, and colleagues who share and implement its mission and vision.

4 How to align your teaching philosophy with your institution's mission

Once you have identified your teaching philosophy and your institution's mission, you can use some strategies to align them. For example, you can review and revise your teaching philosophy to reflect and incorporate your institution's mission and values. Additionally, you can align your course outcomes, content, activities, and assessments with your institution's goals and priorities. Utilizing your institution's resources, services, and networks can also help to enhance your teaching and learning practices and outcomes. Furthermore, you can showcase and share your teaching and learning achievements and innovations with your institution and the wider community. Finally, you can seek and provide feedback and support from and to your institution and colleagues on your teaching and learning alignment and improvement.

5 How to evaluate and improve your alignment

Evaluating and improving alignment is an ongoing process that requires constant evaluation and improvement. To do this, you should collect and analyze data and evidence on your teaching and learning alignment and impact, such as student feedback, peer observation, course evaluation, and learning analytics. It is also important to reflect and identify your strengths and areas for improvement in your teaching and learning alignment and practice. Additionally, you should plan and implement actions and interventions to address your improvement areas and enhance your alignment and effectiveness. Finally, you should monitor and review your progress and outcomes and make adjustments as needed. Alignment is essential for teaching and learning success and satisfaction. By aligning your teaching philosophy with your institution's mission, you can create a more coherent and effective learning environment for your students and yourself.