Instructor & Course Introductions

Instructor Introduction

Welcome to HSC4813 - Instructional Experiences in Health Sciences! 

Hello, class! This is Dr. Gail Kauwell, chair of the Department of Health Sciences. I am excited to get to know you this semester and to work with you as you engage in your role as an undergraduate teaching assistant. I started working at UCF in August 2019, and while my usual responsibilities do not include teaching, I am looking forward to this opportunity as I have missed working with students in the classroom.

I have a long history of working in academia prior to accepting employment at UCF. At my previous institution (University of Florida), I taught graduate and undergraduate courses in nutrition and dietetics, served as the program director for our Master of Science - Dietetic Internship Program, and conducted research. I find that students are interested in how people got a start in their careers and how they ended up where they are, so I will share that with you at our first meeting along with other tidbits that will help you get to know me. I'll want to get to know you too, so one of your first assignments will be to share some of "your story" with me and the class.

As undergraduate teaching assistants (UTA), you will be engaged in helping other students learn. For this reason, I think it's appropriate for me to share some of my teaching philosophy with you. I believe that successful teaching and learning are contingent upon positive student-teacher relationships and that students are more committed to learning when they feel that their instructor is approachable and concerned about them as individuals. This means taking time to mentor, encourage, and empower students; finding ways to facilitate learning and personal growth; and "seeing with the heart" - observing and noticing students, respecting them as individuals, and taking an interest in their academic and professional success. I also believe that learning and self-discovery occur best when students are actively engaged, feel supported by the learning environment, are encouraged by their instructors, and see a connection with their future.

I'll share a little more about me during our first face-to-face class meeting, In the meantime, I am attaching a photo of CJ, my wonderful Golden Retriever who loves to ride in the convertible sporting his shades!

I'm looking forward to meeting and working with each of you!

Dr. Kauwell

Course Introduction

HSC4813 - Instructional Experiences in Health Sciences is a one credit course linked with a service learning experience as an undergraduate teaching assistant (UTA) for Health Sciences courses. Serving as an undergraduate teaching assistant provides students in the Department of Health Sciences with the opportunity for academic enrichment as they assist their assigned faculty mentor with course administration and instruction. HSC4813 is intended to support students in their roles as undergraduate teaching assistants using discussions and other activities.

Over the course of the semester, it is anticipated that you will gain a better appreciation of teaching and learning from the perspective of the faculty member who is teaching the course to which you have been assigned as well as the activities and assignments in this course. It is also anticipated that you will advance your communication, critical thinking, decision-making, collaboration, professional, and leadership skills.