Buffie Schmidt, MBA, Ed.S.

Teaching Philosophy

I believe that education is the greatest power that one can possess. Education changes lives.

·         Education can be achieved in many ways. College education is only one way. College is difficult; it is not for everyone. Those for whom it is for will achieve it with determination, time management, and perseverance.

·         I believe students should leave my class with concept knowledge and a good understanding of who they are, why they are, and where they are.

·         Employers do not hire a piece of paper, they hire skill sets. Through my course, I promise to help improve your time management, critical thinking, communication, organization, and leadership skills through deadlines, application and analytical based test questions, performance based assignments, required presentations, group projects, and withdrawal consultations.

I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to love their work, achieve their goals, and eagerly anticipate the future.

·         I am blessed that I love what I do and do what I love. This is evident in my enthusiasm in the classroom. If I am not excited about the concepts I am teaching I have failed at my job.

As an educator my job is multidimensional. My primary objective is to provide each student with a wealth of knowledge on the concepts. However, my approach to this objective is differentiated and considers the background, goals, learning styles, and personalities of the students. This is done with great care in order to maximize concept retention. Performance assessments, application questions, and relating concepts to current events or real-life are excellent ways to improve retention and frequently used in my classroom. If my students do not retain what they have learned in my class I have provided little value.

·         I am fortunate to possess the skill and talent to guide others along the pathway of their educational endeavors.  This is evident in my never ending approaches to help a student learn so long as effort is forthcoming from all parties and knowledge is truly desired.

·         I am blessed to have achieved extraordinary, real-life, corporate experience in my field.  Theories are practical but reality is unpredictable. Merely equipping students with knowledge of theories and concepts is not efficient. It will lead to being overwhelmed and underperforming on the job. I strive to prepare students for reality through application and analytical based assignments, classroom/online discussions, and out-of-the-box thinking.

If an army’s goal is to win the war, their focus is skewed, they will lose battles and ultimately the war.  If an army’s goal is to win battles, they will win so many battles that victory is eventually achieved.  I approach many things in life with this mentality: parenting, marriage, careers, and the classroom. 

·         I win battles when a chemistry student decides my economics class is their favorite course or when a student decides to stick it out instead of withdrawing and then earns a B, or when a Student returns years later to repeat concepts, classroom discussions, or words of advice that changed their lives.

In business your audience is key. A manager that adapts to the personality, needs, and goals of each individual employee in order to guide them to their greatest level of excellence, maintain or boost morale, while achieving company goals will be one of the most successful, respected members of an organization.

In academics, audience is key. A professor that differentiates instruction, incorporates multiple assessment types, relates concepts to real-life and addresses the various learning styles and life experiences as often as possible succeeds in enabling the student to learn, retain, and apply knowledge in multiple facets of life in manners through which the world will be changed.