Philosophy

"Know that the path you walk will not always be straight nor the ground you tread always level. But cherish the time you spend with one another and endeavor to enjoy the journey, for therein lies your happiness."

—MJ Losacco 2011

Simply put, I will always consider you as my student. Whether we have one class together or several, I want you to know that you can always seek me out. By email, phone or in person; to help solve a problem or just talk; today or any time in the future. My relationships with students are exhibited by listening, patience, showing empathy and displaying respect. I am not only interested in your learning, but also in your welfare.

I have what some consider a relaxed style and believe that learning should be fun as well as challenging.

Recently, there has been a greater emphasis on teachers as facilitators, specially in technology. In that respect, I want you to surpass attaining the goals of the class and achieve real understanding. That is accomplished through active learning: a combination of covering the course material, enhancements to the material that I supply, and proactive participation of the student.

My classes are typically structured in the following fashion:

• Textbook Material - It is your responsibility to read the material before coming to class and be prepared to discuss it.
• Discussion (aka lecture) - The discussion of the material, encompassing questions, analysis, and debate of concepts. I encourage questions. If you do not understand, ask. If the explanation is not adequate, say so. An explanation, however eloquent, is worthless unless you understand it. In regard to analysis and debate, there are often times many acceptable solutions to a problem. Being exposed to different tactics, aspects, and opinions, enhances learning.
• Tutorial - A guided, step-by-step approach to help you gain experience in creating files and performing functions together as a class. I attempt to have the student with the least experience set my pace, assuming they have met any prerequisites and the objectives of the class are still met.
• Labs - In class assignments that allow you to put into practice the concepts you learned during the tutorial.
• Projects - At home assignments designed to challenge your skill level and demonstrate your understanding of tutorial and lab concepts.
• Test/Exam - Used to ascertain if terminology and concepts are being retained.