Translating Monastic Lessons to Teaching Undergraduate Biology
DOI
10.3389/fcomm.2021.731497
Abstract
My participation in the Emory Tibet Science Initiative (ETSI) has afforded me considerable means to enrich my teaching at the undergraduate level. Here, I discuss how I translated lessons learned from working with Tibetan Monks to teaching in a primarily undergraduate institution, including: 1) introducing each course with a challenge to the assumptions made as “Western scientists” 2) using the unique monastic pedagogy of debate to facilitate classroom scholarship, and 3) embracing compassion as a central tenet to engage and empower student learning, which has become the cornerstone of my teaching philosophy. In addition, I brought undergraduates with me to participate in ETSI, and the experience had a profound effect on their educational and career paths. These experiences with the Tibetan monks transformed my teaching and continue to inform how I approach undergraduate education.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-7-2021
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2021, Frontiers.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.731497
The definitive version is available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.731497/fullRecommended Citation
Pierce BD, "Translating Monastic Lessons to Teaching Undergraduate Biology." Frontier Communications (2021) 1-6. DOI: 10.3389/fcomm.2021.731497