Overview

I truly love undergraduate teaching which is why I am thrilled to part of Western Washington University--an institution that is deeply dedicated to undergraduate education.  Much of what I learned about teaching I learned from experimenting with innovative techniques at Singapore Management University.  I am excited to bring to WWU classes some of the methods that I've found to be effective, and I look forward to learning even more from WWU students and my colleagues.

Teaching Excellence Recognition

Singapore Management University Innovative Teacher Award, 2016
​SMU School of Social Sciences Innovative Teacher Award, 2016
​SMU School of Social Sciences Teaching Excellence Award, 2009, 2014, 2015
University of Illinois Incomplete List of Excellent Teachers, 2001, 2002, 2003
​
Pictured above: Students in Intro Psychology engage in a task that demonstrates brain lateralization.

Interactive Pedagogy

I have spent years developing interactive pedagogy tailored to each of my courses.  I use active small group discussions in all of my classes.  The specific activities, video clips, assignments, and discussion topics naturally vary for each course, but the underlying philosophy is the same for all--doing is learning.


​
See a sample Syllabus.
​See a sample Homework for SWB.

Abandon PowerPoint

I rarely use PowerPoint.  Instead I use a document camera and paper and pen to literally illustrate concepts.  This technique born of a conversation I had with a colleague who introduced me to the book The Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam.  The book taught me how to use simple, handmade drawings to illustrate concepts on the fly. Many students report that this technique is more engaging than PowerPoint, and helps them to understand and remember concepts better.

Pedagogical Research

I published a paper with Ed Diener in the Teaching of Psychology about teaching Subjective Well-Being.  Teaching Subjective Well-Being is an excellent way to emphasise scientific methods and dispel myths.  The topic is inherently interdisciplinary (in fact, my SWB course is cross-listed under psych and public policy).  There are endless opportunities for fun activities and discussions.

I published a chapter in an APA Positive Psychology book with SMU undergraduate Wei Xuan Yi (now at NYU graduate school).  The chapter describes a classroom activity which demonstrates how culture influences the “ingredients” we think comprise a “good life.” The activity is based on findings from the culture and emotion literature, some of it by my collaborators and me.  What I love about this paper is that it truly represents the intersection of my teaching and research.