Teaching Statement

Ming-Ni Lee

Teaching Goals ----

My long-term academic goal is to work toward a professorship in an accredited university, making a steady and balanced contribution to both teaching and research. Thus, beyond my research commitments, I also attended the University Teaching Program and a summer teaching workshop at the University of Alberta, to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills, preparing myself to be a more competent researcher and an influential university scholar. In this meaningful way of contributing to society, I expect myself to impart my expertise in psychology to my students as well as the general public, leading to advancements in the areas of science and human potential.

Teaching Experiences and Contributions ----

Currently, I am working as an associate professor at the National Dong Hwa University. In 2011, I was working as a part-time assistant professor at the Center for General Education, National Chiao Tung University. During my M.S. and PhD programs, I had about 8 years of teaching experience, working as a teaching assistant:

u Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University (1998/09-2000/06)

Course: Psychological Testing

-- Worked with Dr. Pang-Chieh Lin (Teaching, answering students’ questions, marking assignments, and writing an omnibus for psychological tests)

* With experience giving a lecture in class for this course

u Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta (2003/09-2009/12)

Courses: Introductory Psychology, Personality Psychology, Psychological Studies of Dreaming, Psychology of Aesthetics

-- Worked with Dr. Don Kuiken, Dr. Peter Hurd, Dr. Karsten Loepelmann, Dr. Rodney Schmaltz, Dr. Ria Busink, and Dr. Leo Mos (Answering students’ questions, marking assignments and exams, and preparing class materials)

* With experience giving a lecture in class for “Psychological Studies of Dreaming”

I have demonstrated teaching skills and a commitment to excellence in teaching: During my PhD program, I gained experience while teaching a course called, “Individual and Social Behavior” (including the introduction of developmental psychology, psychological testing, social psychology, personality psychology, abnormal psychology, and clinical psychology, etc.) on my own at the University of Alberta in 2008, for which I have received substantial positive feedback from students. (Placed on the Honor Roll for Teaching Excellence).

u Here are some examples of the feedback I received from my teaching evaluation:

1. “I believe that this course was of high quality because the topics we learn and discuss about interest[ed] me and motivated me to explore more about these topics. We were able to discuss these topics to clear up confusion and made better sense of the material being taught and learned.”

2. “I am motivated to learn more.”

3. “I thought it was very considerate of you to take our comments into play when dealing with marks, midterms, assignments.... you allowed us to get involved.”

4. “Yes, instruction was high quality. Ming-Ni displayed well rounded knowledge about the subject.”

5. “I agree that the instruction of this course was of high quality because she repeated things we missed, allowed discussions in class and helped us learn in a comfortable environment.”

6. “She definitely treated students with respect and she tried to explain the subject thoroughly so our understanding of the content was clear. As for the midterms, she has gone over our mistakes which helped to gain a better understanding which shows that she has provided feedback. She seems to be very interested in the course and shown to explore further about the subject to answer our questions.”

7. “The instructor tried her best and it shows, she is dedicated to teaching this course and is doing a good job at it. The course is very interesting and talks about the many aspects of psychology I am wanting to learn more about.”

u Assistant Professor at the Center for General Education, National Chiao Tung University (2011/08-2012/01)

Courses: Introduction to Psychology (two courses)

u Associate Professor/Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, National Dong Hwa University (2012/08-Present)

Courses: Social Psychology, Personality Psychology, Seminar on Dreams and Psychology, Psychological Studies of Dreaming, Introductory Readings in Dream Studies, Seminar in Social Psychology, Theory and Practice of Psychological Research, General Psychology, etc.

* Please see my “Course Overview” and CV for detailed information.

Teaching Philosophy ----

I believe everyone has the potential to grow into the kind of person who is able to utilize his/her distinctive talents and aptitudes. Therefore, first, one of the most important goals of my teaching “psychology” is to facilitate students’ self-exploration, so they can be well-prepared to realize their goals in life and thus become responsible, integral individuals as well. In addition, my volunteering experiences in humanistic education have provided me with the insights and skills necessary to incorporate this leadership into teaching. Second, psychology is a subject that can provide real, direct help to human lives and well-being. Thus, I design my classes in a way that is not only informative but also inspirational in reaching this goal. For instance, I like to create an interesting context, which can facilitate students to actively think about how to apply what they have learned into real-life settings. Third, I encourage students to express their ideas in class, learn to listen to and respect other peoples’ opinions, and cooperate in teamwork as well. Through this brainstorming learning process, they will be able to acquire problem-solving strategies, and this can also better prepare them to be sympathetic, successful psychologists in the future. Fourth, I encourage students to challenge what they have learned and see beyond the current trends of psychology. I believe this is especially important in university education, since the learning is expected to be an advanced process of integrating, applying, and creating knowledge.

Integrating Research and Teaching ----

I will provide students with the knowledge and research opportunities, which will be critical for them to undertake independent, innovative research projects in the future. In order to achieve this goal, I will inform students of not only important theories but also the up-to-date research trends and findings. The class will lead students to go beyond what they can learn from the textbook, and most importantly, to cultivate their curiosity and scientific attitudes. I will also encourage students to explore their research interests. For those who are interested in participating in my lab research projects or initiating their own independent studies under my supervision, I am willing to provide the opportunities for them to acquire real, practical research experiences through research collaboration.