Introduction
My name is J.J. Sylvia IV, and I’m currently a Ph.D. student in the Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media program at North Carolina State University. I also have an M.A. in Philosophy, and a double B.A. in Communication and Philosophy. I taught Introduction to Philosophy for six years, and various philosophy and communication courses at Mississippi Governor’s School for five years. At North Carolina State University I teach Public Speaking and Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society. Working at the intersection of these subjects, I strive to to understand how technology impacts the way we think about and interact with the world around us.
In the classroom, I bring a passion for student centered learning through the use of the dialectic process, integration of technology, kinesthetic learning, and analysis through relevant and timely popular culture examples. I derive a great deal of fulfillment from helping others discover and understand the power of ideas in the world around them and continually develop both my own understanding and the ways in which I can share that with my students. I aspire to create innovative, hands-on courses that blend practice and theory in a way that challenges and engages students.
The following portfolio is designed to give a glimpse of my teaching philosophy as well as a fuller view of my classroom and an understanding of how I teach.
Table of Contents
Section 1: Philosophy and Reflections
- Teaching Philosophy
- Techno Teaching Philosophy Video
- Teaching Activity: Reflection and Evaluation
- Translating Research into Practice Paper: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy To Assess Social Media Assignments
- Review: John Dewey’s Education and Democracy
Section 2: In the Classroom
- Case Study: Gamification and Critical Making
- Case Study: Digital Pedagogy and Public Speaking
- Sample Assignments
- Videos: In the Classroom with J.J. Sylvia IV
- When Teaching Works: Taking the Risk to Be Yourself