Kendrea James

• Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is learning arrives at putting it into practice. In teaching the Public Speaking courses, specifically, I take a performance based class approach, meaning the students are required to perform identities in class. I want my students to feel listened to, safe to express their opinions, while understanding rhetoric at its core. All students have experience communicating. As humans we do it to survive and evolve. My goal is to teach students how to THRIVE with their communication skills and abilities.

In addition, research skills are vital and required to help better understand concepts. Media literacy is an aspect that is addressed in all courses I teach, as this is a vital skill in our world. I practice how to properly cite reputable sources through lectures, and they in turn must perform this skill during presentations and in class assignments.

My students often describe my teaching as “modern” and “enthusiastic”. Students often tell me they would be excited to come to Public Speaking and couldn’t believe they “actually enjoyed the class!”….For someone who teaches a class that often causes many students great anxiety, an additional philosophy in the classroom is build students confidence and make learning fun! I believe I am great at what I do because I genuinely love being in academia.

My philosophy in the classroom best follows a quote I have yet to find the original source of, “Tell me I forget, show me I may remember, involve me and I will learn.” What a beautiful way to describe education.

Professional Development

- University of Missouri Teaching Scholars Cohort 2019 -2020

- Central States Communication Association 2018, 2019, 2020 (virtual)

Presented on multiple panels each year including Speech and Debate, Graduate Experience,

Forensics Research, and Women's Issues Caucus.

- Founded Speech and Debate Team, designed and implement Speech Honors students 2018 - Present

McKendree University x 3 tournaments

Southwest Baptist University x 2 tournaments

Crowder College

University of Minneapolis Twin Cities (virtual)

George Brown University (virtual)

- Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri Conference 2018

- Professional Development Grant recipient presentation 2018, 2019

- Conversations at Work Conference Missouri S&T 2018

Publications

James, K. (2018). Competition and community-building in forensics In Competition, Community, and Educational Growth: Contemporary Perspectives on Competitive Speech and Debate. New York, NY: Peter Lang.

Copeland, K., Dr., & James, K. (2017). My Education Has Come From My Forensics Experience. Speaker & Gavel, 53(1).

Multiple graduate level papers in the fields of: Propaganda, Interpersonal Communication, Alternative Media and Communication and Social Change

Other Service & Awards

- Faculty Advisor for S&T Ultimate Frisbee Team 2019 - Present

- Discovery Day 2018, 2019, 2020

- Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence Opportunity Grant 2018, 2019

- Top Paper in Argumentation and Forensics CSCA 2018

- Top 3 student paper from CSCA 2017

- Top Paper in Forensics and Argumentation from National Communication Association

- Mathematics Graduate Assistant course guest speaker for Samaranyake, V.A., 2017

- Guest judge at slam poetry night for Chancellor's Leadership Academy, 20