Teaching Portfolio
for Miguel Juarez

Teaching Philosophy

For me, teaching is a life-long mission. I also believe that we must express our passion and enthusiasm for teaching by making it active, interesting, and stimulating whenever possible.


Teaching Strategies

I believe that not until we promote information literacy as a means of empowering individuals and enhancing the educational potential of communities everywhere will people benefit from the tools we have available as a result of the Information Age.

My goals in teaching include:

* Becoming a partner in the education process of teaching students information and visual literacy skills.
* Conducting outreach to faculty for the goal of incorporating instructional technology into their classes.
* Working towards making Information Literacy core components in the academic environment.
* Participating in on-going instruction programs, conferences and workshops to further develop my instructional skills.

Information Literacy

Information Literacy encompasses an array of competencies: guiding students to develop critical thinking skills, quantitative reasoning and effective communication skills in relation to accessing, using and evaluating information. Information Literacy mandates that users know techniques for exploring information, connecting it to other knowledge bases and making practical use of it (Source: the American Library Association Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report).


Visual Literacy

As materials in the arts become digitized and are available in online formats, librarians will find themselves needing to teach Visual Literacy skills. The goals in teaching these skills is to design instructional tools that educate users in accessing, using, evaluating images and honoring their copyright and uses.

What is Visual Literacy?

International Visual Literacy Association


Bibliographic Instruction Guides:

Art/Art History:Art Research @ the U of A Library
Beyond the Obvious: African/Diaspora & Arts in Global Societies
Mexican Murals

Architecture:
Architecture Research @ the U of A Library
Landscape Architecture

Photography/Visual Communications:History of Photography

Other Subject Guides:
Grant$ & Residencies for the Arts
Design for Social Change


Library Instruction Sessions Taught for the following classes:

Art Education:ARE 330 -- Foundations of Art Education
ARE 361-- Creative Methods
ARE 434 -- Cross-Cultural Issues in Art Education

Art History:ARH 117 -- Survey of Art History (Gothic)
ARH 202 -- Gen Ed: Survey of Western Art in Society
ARH 239 -- Contemporary African Art
ARH 539D -- Contemporary African Art
ARH 320 -- Introduction to European Modern Art
ARH 412C -- Romanesque Art
ARH 413C -- Renaissance Art in Italy: 16th Century
ARH 424A -- History of Photography
ARH 439 -- African Art
ARH 524 -- History of Photography

Studio Arts:ART 456 -- Advanced Printmaking
ART 483 -- Combining Media
ART 497/597a -- Gallery Management
ART 579 -- Graduate Fibers

Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Planning:
ARC 227 -- Architectural Programming
ARC 461c/561C -- Tectonic Studies
ARC 597A -- Research Methods
LAR 510 -- Design Studio I


Customer Feedback
Spring 2001

Thank you so much for the presentation of the web site to my class last Wednesday. It was a great help to the students.... they have been saying
that since wednesday they REALLY have a better sense of how to make the web site work for their interests. You have been so generous and gracious with
your time, and it is very much appreciated. Thank you so much. Best
GW (graduate student, art education)


Dear Mr Juarez,
Thank you for your time and library information. I know that I will be visiting your web site often. My only problem is that I,m not very up on computers. If you hear of a computer workshop let me know. Thank-you again.
JN (graduate student, art education)


I am in Lori Schramel's art education class and I just wanted to thank you for all of your help and information you shared with us on Monday. It has
made researching much easier. Thank you!
Cecelia (undergraduate student, art education)


Dear Mr. Juarez,
Thank you for taking the time to introduce our class on Monday to your website and the resources it provides. Your knowledge is impressive and I
learned a great deal, especially about searching. I plan on using your site for a variety of classes in the future and appreciate the time you must have
put into it.
(undergraduate student, art education)


Dear Miguel,
Thank you so much for taking the time our of your schedule to introduce to my class the many possibilities that the internet holds. I am now more well
aware of the different resources that the are within in the library and how they can benefit my education. Your hard work to make using the internet a
little easier for students such as my self has not gone unrecognized. Once again thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
DDF (undergraduate student, art education)


Miguel
Thank you so much for your time. It was very helpful to go thru the system today. I shared some of the info with the Critical Issues Class that I was
hurrying off to when I left your office. We are all doing research papers so you'll probably hear from the other 4 members of the group soon-again thank
you. It was very easy to understand and learn from you.
RR (undergraduate student, art history)


Thanks very much again, Miguel. They found the presentation very
useful. Gracias.
SW (undergraduate student, art education)


SPRING 2003

Hi Miguel,
The semester went great, thanks! I am glad to be done. And here I thought that was a sentiment that only the students carried. Huge learning experience and unfortunately I probably will not be teaching again next year. I think they hired a full-time faculty member, which they were in big need of having. How about you? summer vacation coming up? Thanks again for your help with getting our class web site up and running. You are very talented. Hope to see you around every now and then.
Stephanie (faculty member, art education)

Miguel:
Thank you very much for taking time from your busy schedule to work with my Academic and Research Libraries students two weeks ago. It was nice to see so much productive discussion generated. In fact, I was shocked to see so much discussion that near the end of the semester.
Thanks so much for your outstanding contribution.
Cordially,
Dr. John Ellison (Information Science faculty member)

Hi Miguel,
You have also given me valuable help on my thesis..
Thanks,
Veronica (graduate student, art history)

Dear Miguel,
Thank you so much for your valuable time and invaluable assistance with my research. I will bookmark your homepage and now am far more knowlegeable regarding electronic research and how to effectively use the datebases that are available. I will keep you posted as my research progresses and I thank you in advance for trying to order a copy of Roma 1911. Thanks again. Colleagues like you are to be highly valued. All best wishes,
Sarah (faculty member, art history)



Fall 2003

Greetings Miguel!
I who wanted to thank you profusely for your time and efforts with the Arh 201 class. A couple of my TA's were annoyed with the crowd- they mentioned that a few people rudely left and I apologize for their childish behavior. I have spoken to other students who said that you helped them repeatedly, so I again appreciate your time and efforts. Chicago went well and I'll fill you in at some point. Hope next week you get some time off, I'm glad for the break!
SB (faculty member, art history)


Dear Miguel
While I have not yet followed through with my group on what they gained from your workshop, or if they want another session yet, I could tell we all needed this instruction for what I am asking them to do for my class, their future classes, and for what is ahead in shifts in research. I have avoided knowing alot about computers myself, since it is always such a challenge just to make time for studio work in the middle of all else faculty are expected to take on. Anyway, I am anxious to have a block of time to sit with the website and play more with what you showed us. And thanks for putting together that point by point list with sites on it--very helpful. The website you put together is so amazing, designed for artist mind, MANY THANKS! I am also interested in looking more closely at the imaging site you showed, just before I had to run off. There is so much too navigating but not when someone shows yous some of the "ins", so I really appreciate your work and I thank you on behalf of my group as well. It will also make them much more likely to visit you for help as they need it since they met you in person. Very Best Regards,
BP (faculty member, studio art, 2D)

Miguel,
I am very sorry... this week has been extremely hectic for me. Thank you so very much for doing extra work for me. I was really stuck. Thank you for the direction; I think that I can find what I'm looking for now. I really appreciate all that you've done (with no response from me... it seems as if you really didn't have to take time to find references for me... This I know!) I tried to call your office today to thank you, but I checked my e-mail late and didn't actually call you until 6:30. I regret that I missed you. Hopefully this e-mail extends my greatfulness. I, personally, know the value of time management and the importance of spending time on a project that others will use more than myself. So, once again thank you for taking the time to help me even though I didn't write, call or drop by your office.
Greatfully,
HH (graduate student, art history)

Hello Miguel,
I want to thank you for all your help this semester with the web site, for reserving and setting up the library spaces for the grants class, and for your presentation to the class. Your contributions and help have been invaluable and greatly appreciated. My sincere thanks to you.
Best,
GW (faculty member, studio art, 3D)

Other happy customers:

Fall 2003

LIB-QUAL COMMENT:
Number: 333
User Group: Faculty
Discipline: Performing & Fine Arts
Library Branch: Center for Creative Photography Library
Age: 46 - 65
Sex: Female
Comment:
I enjoy the library but am concerned that some resources are unavailable. Miguel has been a wonderful resources and help - i cannot speak highly enough of him.

Spring 2004


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 8:53 PM
To: Miguel
Subject: thanks

Miguel, Thanks for giving us your time today in the computer lab. Its a great ice breaker to a new thing for me, but im not saying Ive never been to a library before. It just helps getting a small tour. Q. & A. a google is any number with a million zeros after it. and Ill keep working on a book suggestion. I was wondering where I could buy your book? I was at Borders and they couldnt find it??? Thanks again, Carla P.


Fall 2004

From: umbrella@ix.netcom.com
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 2:23 PM
To: Juarez, Miguel
Subject: Re: e-journal

You're terrific--as usual.

jah


-----Original Message-----
From: Roxana
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 2:42 PM
To: Miguel
Subject: RE: Your Question about Space Planning

Thank you Miguel,

It’s always a wonderful surprise when people are efficient and answer your questions in such a prompt and expeditious way. I can understand why you are in the position is which you are now. Congratulations and thank you again.

Roxana