PHYSICS PROFESSOR- DR. ANTONIA CHIMONIDOU, Teaching Methods & Style
What To Expect In Class:
My belief is that each class that one takes in college should be a life-changing, intellectual adventure. This philosophy is the central part of my courses. Science is not a catalog of facts; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Science is a process of questioning and figuring out things we don’t know. In my classes, I strive to provide an engaging, fun, and safe space for my students to learn through inquiry and the making of connections between what they learn in class and their everyday experiences.
My teaching style revolves around the idea that the most effective learning in science happens when students are given opportunities to identify, defend, and adjust their ideas by being active participants in their learning. Each day, I facilitate this student-centered learning process through the elicitation of prior knowledge, active engagement such as hands-on activities (e.g., experiments or online simulators), social interactions with others (e.g., group work or breakout rooms), and multiple exposures to key ideas in many contexts. Emphasis is given to the conceptual understanding of physical concepts along with quantitative reasoning to supplement learning.
To assess my students’ understanding, I use a combination of formative and summative assessments. To get real-time feedback, I use frequent, low-risk assessments such as multiple-choice questions and group discussions, while deeper understanding is evaluated through exams, homework assignments, and lab reports.
At the end of the day, I hope to not only instill in my students a curiosity about the world around them but to also provide them with the tools they need to figure things out on their own, while having fun doing so!