William J. Moner - Instructor Portfolio

Teaching Philosophy

Why do I teach? I teach because I enjoy the pursuit of knowledge and the thrill of learning. I cannot think of a more rewarding opportunity than to help students shape their ideas and harness their creativity.

Thus, my teaching philosophy is simple:
Create an environment where ideas can become reality.

Personal Reflection on Teaching

I have been teaching for over four years, and I can easily say that it is the most rewarding endeavor I have ever pursued.

When I first began teaching at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I entered the institution with a Masters of Science in Multimedia Technology as the qualification to teach. However, after four years I can truly say I feel comfortable in the role of instructing individuals in many aspects of technology. A little less than two years ago, I was honored to be asked to teach in the Advertising department at AIP. Due to this opportunity, my perspective on the World Wide Web as a communications medium has been expanded beyond what I had ever considered possible.

I began teaching in the Interactive Media Design department, which is now Web Design and Interactive Media. While I still teach WDIM courses and some courses in the Fundamentals department, I have branched off to teach Advertising in the age of social media. With the evolution of Twitter and Facebook and the influence of email, text messaging and instant messaging, advertising has become a complex and innovative area that has become the fascination of many and the subject of numerous research studies. The revolution has just begun, and we are only beginning to see the implications of converging media.

Advertising via the World Wide Web is in its relative infancy. As an instructor, I continue to monitor the developments in social networking as it translates to the realm of handheld devices and GPS-enabled technology. In the coming years, we will witness the culmination of many years of convergent media possibilities, and I am thrilled to be able to bring these changes to a new, tech-savvy audience in the classroom.

I believe that the classroom experience is meant to be an interactive environment, and the students benefit from an environment where they become part of the experience. As such, the classroom becomes a place where students can learn fundamental skills and develop their ideas using a solid foundation and sound techniques.

My teaching style is very conversational, and I encourage students to respond to ideas and questions by breaking down the traditional teacher/student barrier. I work best when students challenge me. In turn, I ask them to challenge themselves to analyze course materials, question concepts and theories, and explore software to discover new methods and techniques.

Once a foundation has been established, students are encouraged to pursue projects relevant to their portfolio and academic interests. Within each class, I emphasize that every project and every skill is vital to the student attaining their goals upon graduation. To that end, I challenge the students to develop innovative project ideas and produce beyond their expectations.

Beyond the classroom...

The world is not enclosed within the four walls of the campus-based classroom. Worlds are being created in virtual environments, and communications technologies are merging the physical with the virtual. Online collaboration, social networking, user-created content, and online virtual worlds are quickly becoming areas of innovation and business opportunities. Handheld devices are becoming a gateway to online material, and GPS-enabled devices allow for instant access to geo-specific materials.

The material delivered in a single course cannot compare to the wealth of information available on the World Wide Web, in books, in publications, and in collaborative efforts with members of online communities. I always attempt to make the subject matter relevant to current trends, and my course material supports the idea of establishing fundamental, flexible skills that will allow students to be versatile in their exploration of technology and design.

Why do I teach?

I teach because I enjoy the process of discovery. My success as an instructor is based upon the success of the students, and I find no greater joy than to see students discover their gifts and talents. I strive to be involved with the student’s learning experience by offering assistance during office hours and by email, answering current and former student questions at any time, and providing resources through my web site and online presence. I am proud to be part of my students’ process of discovering and creating their own niche in this vast world of interactive communications.