Ms. Wendy Bilen

Biography

Learning and life are inextricable. Whatever students encounter in their lives makes its way into the classroom, and what occurs in the classroom should make its way into their lives. I seek to educate the whole person, to build meta-skills that equip students for success in academia and beyond. The first step is to break down any obstacles students might have about the subject or the classroom experience by acknowledging and normalizing fears, creating a safe place to experiment and fail, getting to know each student individually, and providing regular support and encouragement. To get students invested in the educational process, I cater to various student learning styles, allow students to participate in curricular decisions, embrace experiential learning--inside and outside the classroom--and draw regular connections between the classroom and the world. Though teaching should adjust to the needs of the students, some things should never change: learning should be interesting, learning should push students to do their best, and learning should last. I use whatever I can, within reason, to make this vision a reality for each of my students.

Research Interest

Creative nonfiction Memoir Spoken word The integration of faith and writing The teaching-learning process Experiential learning The teaching of writing Writing as empowerment for under-resourced students The impact of technology on student learning