I believe that learners construct their own understanding of topics.  They grapple to demystify the world around them based on what they already know, or have experienced.  As a teacher, I see myself as a facilitator of this process.  I assist students as they interpet information, and as they learn to identify their personal learning styles and strengths.  Through my use of interactive activities, I facilitate meaningful, discovery-based  experiences that help students to connect information to the real world.   In addition, I assist the students to further their understanding of their experiences through assessments, feedback, and reflection.  Their knowledge of themselves as learners, their ability to associate classroom content with larger concepts, and their continuous reflection, allows students to develop a sense of self-efficacy and independence as a learner.  The prospect of passing these skills and abilities onto my students is what motivates each lesson I plan and teach.