Jamie Mayer, Ph.D.

Professor
ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholar
School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Teaching Expertise and Approach

Jamie teaches undergraduate and graduate speech language pathology and gerontology courses. She describes her approach to teaching as follows:

"I always tell students that in order to learn, they HAVE TO care about the material... Their brains will only be able to remember what they consider important. This is a fundamental truth behind the neuroanatomy of memory and how people learn. And in order to care about what they're learning, they have to both feel empowered (i.e., a sense that they are in control of their learning goals) and to understand how course material connects to their world.

So, students in my courses spend a lot of time making those connections and, when possible, completing hands-on and/or multi-modal educational experiences that are hierarchically structured to allow for gradual cycles of new knowledge acquisition, knowledge application (e.g., case studies), self-reflection, and concept assimilation.

This philosophy extends to my own teaching - to be an effective teacher, I have to care deeply about the material in the course (i.e., finding meaning) AND about the students themselves and their ability to succeed. I try to make this clear to students by continually seeking feedback, offering help, and facilitating discussions about learning and course material both within and outside of class."

Types of Courses Taught

• Community-Engaged
• Undergraduate
• Graduate

Courses Taught