Peggy Hsieh, MEd, PhD

Professor
Assistant Dean for Educator Development
Office of Educational Programs
McGovern Medical School
UTHealth Houston

Email:  [email protected]
Phone:  713-500-7482

Educational Philosophy

Over the years of teaching, I developed the philosophy that our teaching methods should be anchored on how students learn best. With my training in educational  psychology, I have translated the learning theories into my teaching goals. My teaching philosophy comes from a constructivist framework, in which the classroom community works together to construct meaning of materials. Learning occurs as we actively share experiences, ideas, and knowledge. Therefore, one of my goals is to foster a learning environment in which social interactions are encouraged and active learning is expected. In this community, I view my role as one of a facilitator, frequently providing opportunities for discussions through in-class activities.

Second, I believe in the importance of comprehension monitoring. Learners tend to have an illusion of knowing after sitting through a lecture or reading a textbook, believing they comprehend what they have heard or read. To help learners identify knowledge gaps, educators should frequently implement in-class activities as a form of interactive teaching and comprehension monitoring strategy. Not only would learners be more engaged and involved, they would also have a chance to validate their comprehension through application activities and evaluation exercises. With in-class activities, not only are learners’ knowledge confirmed, educators are truly using their expertise to guide learners in their discussions or problem-solving. In addition, these activities are a way for me to gauge my own teaching effectiveness. Through activities such as polling the audience and analyses questions, I’m able to delve into deeper conversations with learners when learners hold misperceptions or when topics are debatable. As a result of such interactions, learning and teaching become more fun and invigorating.

As an educational psychologist, I emphasize the significant role of self-reflection and self-assessment and I am committed to the continual process of self-improvement. To do so, I use workshop and program evaluations to gather feedback about my delivery methods and topic relevance and make changes accordingly.

To me, the classroom environment serves as a support system for learners and educators to satisfy needs, explore interests, refine skills, and internalize the value of learning and teaching. I truly enjoy what I do.

In my role as the Director of Educational Development in the Office of Educational Programs, my responsibilities include developing and delivering workshops for Medical Students, Residents, and Faculty. With a degree in Educational Psychology, I recognize the integral relationship between teaching and learning. It is my passion to interact with students and discuss effective learning strategies and work with educators to develop effective ways to teach.

Areas of Expertise and Interests

  • Apply Educational Psychology theories during teaching opportunities
  • Synthesize ideas and translate it into potential research projects
  • Observe teaching and provide meaningful feedback to educators

My mission is to:

  • Assist educators to become confident in their teaching
  • Support educators in developing skills to teach effectively
  • Prepare residents in the pursuit of an academic career
  • Promote life-long learners who pursue excellence in teaching
  • Support faculty in the development of educational research

Past and Current Educational Activities:

  • Co-director of Health Educators Fellowship Program (HEFP)
  • Director of Physician Educators Certificate Program (PECP)
  • Co-director of Medical Education Scholarly Concentration
  • Co-Investigator: University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine Academy of Health Science Education Small Grants Program, “AIM: The Arts in Medicine Program at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth”.
  • Principle Investigator: Faculty Research Grant, College of Education and Human Development, University of Texas at San Antonio, “An Investigation of Students’ Motivation, Beliefs, and Coping Strategies.”
  • Faculty Research Grant, College of Education and Human Development, University of Texas at San Antonio, “What are Engineering Students’ Beliefs, Goals, Attributions, and Coping Strategies towards their Prerequisite Coursework?”
  • Research Grant, Academy for Teacher Excellence, College of Education and Human Development, University of Texas at San Antonio, “Cognitive Motivation and Engagement Styles in Relation to Stress and Coping”.
  • Member, Southern Group on Educational Affairs (SGEA), American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Psychological Association (APA)
  • McGovern Medical School Director of Educational Development

Honors/Awards

Graduate of the Leadership Education and Development Certificate Program, AAMC Southern  Group on Educational Affairs, April 2017.

The Outstanding Presentation Award for Graduate Medical Education at the Southern Group of Academic Affairs meeting in April 2019.