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TAYLOR TAI

TEACHING

My college teaching is focused on interrupting the patterns of oppression that are pervasive in scientific education. As an instructor and mentor, I hope to promote compassion and community-building among students. Below are a few key pillars of my teaching practice.
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Course Content. Center scholars with diverse backgrounds and highlight contributions from students' own communities. Solicit feedback about the topics and goals students want to explore so that they have ownership over their learning.
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Classroom Culture. Establish discussion norms that promote equitable participation and provide clear protocols for resolving harm. Use language and activities that are inclusive of all physical and mental abilities, and never assume students hold dominant social identities.

Student Support. Prioritize student wellbeing by staying informed about campus resources they may need (e.g., disability services, mental health centers, affinity spaces). Advocate for social justice-centered policies and procedures at the departmental and university levels.

T E A C H I N G  P O S I T I O N S

2020  ||  S.J.L.R. FACILITATOR
I served as a discussion facilitator for UW-Madison's annual Social Justice Leadership Retreat for undergraduates. Programming included small-group identity development and education to train young activists. Students left the retreat with a stronger grasp on their intersecting identities, experiences and biases, leadership skills, and role in fighting prejudice within themselves and their communities.
2017 - 2020  ||  RESEARCH MENTOR
While in graduate school, I advised eight research students through both independent projects and as assistants on my thesis research field teams each summer. I love collaborating with undergraduates who bring new ideas and energy into our work.
"[Taylor] was my mentor for the UW SROP (Summer Research Opportunities Program) program last summer! I love how she pushed for me not to think only about plants but also pollinators. She is open-minded and open-hearted."     
 
- 2020 Research Mentee
2017  ||  INTRO BIOLOGY LAB (BIO152)
As a teaching assistant for UW-Madison's introductory biology course for majors, I taught two weekly ecology, evolution, and plant physiology labs of 20 students each and provided one-on-one writing support sessions for thirteen independent student research projects. For this course, I received UW's Honored Instructor Award for "challenging, supportive, and inspiring" instruction.
2013 - 2015  ||  ACADEMIC ADVISING 
During college, I worked for the Office of Academic Support at Swarthmore College as a student academic mentor (SAM) . In this role, I provided younger students with advising around course selection, time management, degree progress, and campus resources. My favorite part of this job was hosting "study break " parties where students came together to work on assignments, build community with their peers, and ask for help with whatever might be stressing them out that week.
2014  ||  ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (BIO030)
As a teaching assistant for Swarthmore College's intermediate level biology course, I assisted in running weekly hands-on lab experiments on bird, frog, and insect behavior for about fifteen students. I also offered group tutoring sessions and individual help for those seeking support outside of class.
Photo (left) shows undergraduate research assistants Sammy, David, Jaimie, and Maya preparing for bumble bee surveys in the field. ​

  • About Taylor
  • Home Childcare
  • Tutoring Services
  • College Teaching
  • Contact Me