Brigette Valencia Zacharczenko, PhD
Science Educator
Lecturer
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Philosophy
When I think of the most influential instructors in my life, they have all been vibrant, dedicated, and empathetic people with a palpable passion for the subject they are teaching. They’ve had a variety of teaching styles, but all made a strong impression with their ability to convey and transmit their love for their work. My goal as an instructor is to emulate their attitudes, implement their best practices, and continue my quest to learn and improve as a teacher. I believe my greatest strength as an instructor is my enthusiasm, a trait mentioned frequently in my evaluations. This is especially important when teaching entomology, a subject not widely appreciated by the general public. Entomology courses cover such a wide array of material it is difficult to prioritize, or to possibly cover everything I would wish to cover. Therefore my main goal is to foster an appreciation for insects that will promote self-learning and discovery amongst the students, and hopefully propel them to take further courses. I also take the time to dispel common myths and superstitions about insects, as these are the tidbits most likely to get passed along to their friends and family. As for course content I prioritize the evolutionary trends in insects, as this thread truly ties together the varied and disparate disciplines within entomology. There is also a focus on mastering collecting and preservation methods, which provides a hands-on way to connect to the material. Meanwhile I expect memorization of order and family names. This is not a popular task, nevertheless an important skill. Throughout the lectures I also wish to get across the idea of entomology as more than just another course, but also a realistic career option. Finally I believe that social interaction is vital to the learning process, and incorporate group outings and exercises to promote healthy class dynamics and mutual respect. At the end of a course I want every student to feel inspired, motivated, proficient, confident, and full of fond memories. Likewise for introductory biology labs - though they offer their own set of unique challenges, I approach each class with an expectation of excellence and enthusiasm. Teaching is something I will continue to do throughout my life, so I consider it my duty to continue to learn and grow as an instructor.
Comments from Teaching Evaluations
“Very enthusiastic about the material, encourages students to be just as enthusiastic as she is”
“One of the best TAs I’ve had at UConn, very accessible and approachable”
“One of the best TAs I’ve had”
“Very enthusiastic about the material, encourages students to be just as enthusiastic as she is”
“Brigette was extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help”
“Jealous of the general ent students”
“I loved being able to learn about each insect and then be able to go out right after class and find that insect”
“Brigette was extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help”
“Energy when conducting class keeps students interested” “Bring Edith more! ” (my tarantula) “She was definitely super interested in the material, was fun” “She is energetic and always in a good mood” “She made lab enjoyable and fun”
“She is very passionate and extremely knowledgeable, she never said ‘I don’t know’ instead she said ‘I’ll look it up’” “She is very passionate about what she is teaching” “She was a great TA!” “You rock Brigette, thanks for the help!” “She didn’t focus too much on the slide and instead allowed us to explore the material in the lab” “Best TA I’ve had!”
“Thanks Brigette! I now have a new appreciation of plants and bugs” “Get more TAs like Brigette!” “She is very easy to talk to. I never felt uncomfortable asking questions and she’s very passionate about biology which makes conversations more enjoyable and her examples easy to understand” “Brigette is an awesome TA who made a 3 hour lab bearable”
“Energy when conducting class keeps students interested” “Bring Edith more! ” (my tarantula) “She was definitely super interested in the material, was fun” “She is energetic and always in a good mood” “She made lab enjoyable and fun”
“Her passion and enthusiasm for the subject definitely makes the lab more interesting” “She is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject” “Overall helpful in a difficult class” “I had a great time and looked forward to the lab every week. Well done, I learned a lot”
“She is very passionate about her teaching and the topics we study which makes it more exciting for those of us who aren’t as interested” “I didn’t think bio was all that fun or interesting but she definitely changed my mind, so much so I even considered changing my major to something bio related” “She is very enthusiastic about what she teaches, which makes the students become more interested” “Made the class fun!”
“Her passion and enthusiasm for the subject definitely makes the lab more interesting” “She is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject” “Overall helpful in a difficult class” “I had a great time and looked forward to the lab every week. Well done, I learned a lot”