My teaching philosophy is largely based on my own learning experiences. Looking back on my childhood and education, it's hard to believe that I currently teach computer science classes. I didn’t grow up in the “age of technology.” In college, I majored in accounting. Computer science was a new field and something I found very intimidating. Initially, I wanted to learn computer science to enable me to excel in the working world. The transition from accounting to IT was both scary and difficult. These concerns that I had as a student have stayed with me and I draw on them to teach my classes. I have three core beliefs that I incorporate into my teaching philosophy: (1) guiding students to fully recognize and understand the fundamental concepts of computer programming. ; (2) help students develop critical thinking skills to enable them to apply fundamentals to more advanced concepts; and (3) communicate with students to encourage them to become independent thinkers, which will ultimately enable them to excel in their careers. As important as the first principle is, the concepts can be rather boring to a student. As a teacher, I have a responsibility to help students understand foundational material and the application of that material. So I use various techniques to motivate my students and keep them interested. The simplest technique is to convey your enthusiasm for the course topics. Additionally, using real-life examples also serves as a source of motivation. For example, computer games are fun and are an important part of the lives of many students, especially younger ones. Therefore, I use games to teach important fundamentals of sorting algorithm in data structures. Sorting algorithms can...... middle of paper ......t I joined the university, I look forward to developing research in the field of computer science education in a near future. I believe that effective teaching at the college level relies on the use of research to enhance the student learning experience. In the future, my work will focus on research that provides useful teaching, consulting, and curriculum development techniques to computer science educators. I recognize that I still have a lot to learn to become a great instructor. Not all of my ideas for improvement are successful, but I would much rather try new ideas to try to continue to improve as a teacher than never try something new for fear it won't work . I am and always will be an evolving educator who listens to the experience of my students and peers to provide the most innovative and effective educational experience possible..