Teaching Statement

My teaching vision is to motivate my students to develop their learning interests and critical thinking to establish a learner-centered environment in the classroom. Teaching a wide range of environmental and geoscience courses at the King Abdulaziz University has made me aware of the needs and interests of a scientifically and ethnically diverse student mind. As a result, I prepare lesson plans always considering the interconnection between the student’s knowledge, culture and learning abilities, the subject matter discussed in class, and current debates on social issues. I choose content and activities that are both significant and challenging for the students so that they are stimulated to think “beyond” their comfort zone and feel involved in their learning process. Similarly, the activities and class discussions I facilitate encourage students to make connections between my field of study and other disciplines. Collaborative learning is also central to my teaching philosophy to promote reflective thinking and improve the students’ communicative and trans-cultural skills. My commitment and approach to teaching have been rewarded with the highest teaching evaluations an instructor can receive in my institution particularly dedicated to outstanding teaching, I am consistently among the top 10% of all professors and teaching assistants.

During my teaching/advising duties in Saudi Arabia, I have supervised/ supervise eight postgraduate students. Six Master students in different aspects of sciences all related to Geoscience, Biodiversity, Environmental Management, Soil Pollution and Remote Sensing applications in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management. The two Ph.D. students are still undertaking their research work, and both are working under the frame of Water Resources Management in Arid Environment.