My Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is that everyone has a unique voice to share, and a compelling story to tell. My goal is to help people learn how to “geek out” about their passions with confidence and clarity while learning how to engage with others and build positive relationships.
My classrooms are noisy, active spaces that encourage learners to collaborate with others, practice processes, make mistakes, and improve their skills in a supportive environment.
I am also passionate about inclusivity, especially in regard to communication apprehension, anxiety, or other neurodivergencies that could create barriers to expression.
Courses Taught
Principles Of Speech
A study of the arts of expression, oral communication, and listening (theory and practice); effective interaction of speech, speaker, listener, and occasion.
- Semester taught: Fall and Spring
- Syllabus
Exposition and Argumentation
Introduction and practice of the art of essay writing through a professional lens
- Semester taught: Fall 2024
- Syllabus
Teaching Methods and Approaches
My classes utilize a great deal of active learning and small-group communication. Students in my speech classes spend the first half of their semester performing their speeches with semi-permanent small groups that provide support and ongoing feedback.
Student Engagement
I encourage student engagement through active participation in discussions, group projects, and presentations. I also offer virtual office hours and am always open to questions and discussions outside of class time.
Office Hours
Fall 2024 and Spring 2025:
Mondays 10:00-12:00- Virtual Office Hours
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30am-9:30am
Available other times by appointment.
Resources for Students
Contact
Feel free to reach out to me at lisapavia-higel@mst.edu or during my office hours for any questions or clarifications.