I have learned that teaching is not about simply covering material but about inspiring and empowering learning through fostering a student’s development as an individual, a scholar, and a future professional. Over the course of my career, I have made deliberate decisions to foster critical thinking skills and facilitate social learning, such as guiding students through self-evaluation with directed questioning and encouraging students to do the same with classmates. Students have commented on evaluations about their critical thinking skills after taking my course. “The course by Dr. Little was a challenging course that made me think critically about many issues. It was a good learning experience that opened my eyes to the importance of being thorough in my work,” and “Dr. Little challenges us to be a better writer and critical thinker. I love this teacher so much! Great class.”
Being a first professional degree MLA, I understand the difficulty in mastering the design process. I have simplified the process by identifying common tasks within the design process, stressing the importance of ideation, and encouraging students to be bold and daring. I craft problem-based learning which supports service learning opportunities. Finding real projects on real sites that benefit real people has transformed the studio environment in that students witness the power of landscape architecture in creating healthy environments and the subsequent impact on people’s lives. I take students out into the world and encourage them to view the built environment as their laboratory. Demonstrating concepts in the built environment reinforces learning more effectively than a discussion indoors. Lastly, I mentor students to be advocates for the profession since skills of landscape architects are desperately needed in the face of climate change.
Teaching in the news:
Collaboration with the Rainbolt College of Education (2022)
Studio booklets:
Introductory studio
Route 66 Park: A Regional Destination, Oklahoma City, OK
The Lower Park: Scissortail Park, Oklahoma City, OK
Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital: Healing Garden, Oklahoma City, OK
Advanced studio
Riverside District, Oklahoma City, OK
Being a first professional degree MLA, I understand the difficulty in mastering the design process. I have simplified the process by identifying common tasks within the design process, stressing the importance of ideation, and encouraging students to be bold and daring. I craft problem-based learning which supports service learning opportunities. Finding real projects on real sites that benefit real people has transformed the studio environment in that students witness the power of landscape architecture in creating healthy environments and the subsequent impact on people’s lives. I take students out into the world and encourage them to view the built environment as their laboratory. Demonstrating concepts in the built environment reinforces learning more effectively than a discussion indoors. Lastly, I mentor students to be advocates for the profession since skills of landscape architects are desperately needed in the face of climate change.
Teaching in the news:
Collaboration with the Rainbolt College of Education (2022)
Studio booklets:
Introductory studio
Route 66 Park: A Regional Destination, Oklahoma City, OK
The Lower Park: Scissortail Park, Oklahoma City, OK
Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital: Healing Garden, Oklahoma City, OK
Advanced studio
Riverside District, Oklahoma City, OK
