Luis Granda
Teaching Experience
Just inside of a decade, my unique position at Austin Community College has allowed me to bring my current experience as a full time professional to courses in digital animation and portfolio design to students of vastly diverse backgrounds.
I have learned that all of my students represent a broad range of cultures, maturity levels, interests and skills. The nature of present-day animation, visual effects and motion graphics requires intensive use of computer software & technology; a challenge that not all of my students arrive aptly prepared for.
All of my students have abilities. All of them must come to terms with their strengths and weaknesses, and all of them must find a way to make their best qualities rise to the surface. As an educator, I can help them discover what they are best at, what may not be a successful direction for them, and what they truly enjoy doing. My purpose is to facilitate their growth, not just as students or artists, but also as individuals.
Regardless of the abilities these students have when they enter my class, when they leave, I want them to be more creative, confident and capable individuals; who will be able to exercise critical thinking and constructive habits when approaching their daily lives. Elevating my students, and developing stronger, more active minds is my primary responsibility as an instructor. For them to succeed, I must appreciate their welfare, their progress, and their concerns. In addition, to be a teacher, I must be a good listener, a coach, a motivator, and all-around positive influence.
Student Evaluation
I consider student evaluations to be one of the most vital tools available for developing my teaching abilities. I encourage student participation, and I pay special attention to their comments during and after each class. I am always ready to adapt my teaching style to student feedback.
I believe a good teacher needs to be receptive to the needs and problems of the students. Other than evaluations, one way I accomplish this is by obtaining some background information via an introductory questionnaire and numerous interactions with them. During my office hours, my students are always welcome to consult with me if they are seeking additional help, counseling or advice. People tend to feel more comfortable, and then allow themselves to be more honest in non-stressful situations.
Course Development
My primary goal with these courses is to empower students with self-confidence through knowledge gained, that can then be drawn upon to solve practical problems. Since the physical use of the software and very act of design are, in and of themselves, inherently applied, the ultimate evidence of successful instruction is the students’ mastery of the presented material and their ease in its application.
At ACC, I have learned that my purpose is not to teach textbook theory that I cannot justify or exemplify without real-world experience. Effective teaching depends on material that is distilled, jargon-free, and illustrated with examples. Experience has shown me that overwhelming students with endless new material obscures fundamental concepts. Key ideas should be brought to the forefront immediately and reinforced through practical exercises.
I strive to help every student comprehend the various course subjects by addressing all learning styles, and following two main teaching strategies: Maintaining focus throughout the course, and supplementing lectures with substantial hands-on assignments. I believe the best way of learning is by doing. Beyond clear material, I employ a sort of “constructionist” philosophy of learning; i.e. student centered, experience-based discovery learning, where lessons are progressively built upon previous lectures and demonstrations. Students are then able to use information they already know to acquire more knowledge.
Final Thoughts
On the very first day, I disclose the course instructional materials, grading policies, and other guidelines. I treat my students honestly, courteously, fairly and consistently. I try to convey that I have high expectations for each of them; that they are intelligent enough to learn and do the work that I put in front of them and accept the challenge. My life and professional experience has been in the art and communication industries. I believe that recognizing how to employ methods of clear and engaging expression is an invaluable tool for success in life. My desire is to continue to teach the arts, particularly the digital media arts; because I believe that learning the methods and history of this form of communication can lead to a greater understanding of contemporary culture; and thus, our modern world. I take the responsibility of teaching very seriously and I put forth the best teaching effort that I am capable of at each stage of my professional career. I enjoy teaching and I look forward to improving my effectiveness as an educator.
Published: August 24, 2025