William McPherson, Ph.D.William McPherson, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. William McPherson earned his Ph.D. in Business and Marketing Education from New York University, as well as his MA in Administration & Supervision and BA in Marketing from Montclair State University. In addition to teaching at Anaheim University, Dr. McPherson has taught business and technology courses at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Central Connecticut State University, Saint Peters College, and The Chubb Institute. As a consultant, Dr. McPherson has applied his expertise to Educational Testing Services (ETS), the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), Proteus Scientific and Bozell McAdams, and his academic works have appeared in numerous business education journals.

  • Ph.D. in Business and Marketing Education from New York University + MA in Administration & Supervison and BA in Marketing from Montclair State University.
  • Has taught business and technology courses at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Central Connecticut State University, Saint Peters College, and The Chubb Institute, and has held administrative positions at Kean College of New Jersey, William Paterson College, Rowan State University and Montclair State University.

Message from William McPherson, Ph.D.

Welcome! I plan on providing an online teaching environment that facilitates student learning. To provide a better understanding of who your instructor is, I have provided some tenets of my teaching philosophy for your perusal.

My philosophy of teaching is to provide a learning atmosphere where I function as a teacher, facilitator, advisor, listener, member, and moderator. I believe my enthusiasm comes through the moment students encounter me. I seek to achieve a rapport with students. I provide students information and experiences that will prepare them for their current or future careers. I think teachers should be upbeat, postive, and entertaining. I make the online learning atmosphere tension-free and enjoyable.

As a business educator, I seek to ensure that all of my students get educated for and about business. I encourage active, rather than passive learning. While estimates vary, many researchers believe that most people learn 12% from hearing and 82% by doing. With this in mind, I actively engage my students in discussions and practical activities. I incorporate a wide variety of learning resources into my teaching repertoire. All are designed to promote active learning.

I truly believe any type of activity, if each student assumes responsibility, is appropriate for facilitating learning. The practical nature of the business curriculum lends itself to coincide with my teaching style. In most classes I try to provide projects that allow students to apply their knowledge and experience to a business-related topic.

My teaching philosophy mirrors the sentiments of the following:

  • I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. (Chinese Proverb)
  • What we have to do, we learn by doing. (Aristole)

I believe these to hold true. My assignments and activities relate the importance of learning by doing. My teaching philosophy applies various tenets of Malcolm Knowles' Adult Learning Theory and Bloom's Taxonomy. The learning activities and class projects incorporate one or more of the following tenets: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. I foster an environment that is conducive to student learning and is student-centered. My philosophy makes me effective because I engage students and myself in "doing", interacting, praising, guiding facilitating, coaching and mentoring.

I look forward to and welcome feedback from students. I communicate expectations and believe that given these expectations and groundwork that each student will suceed. My teaching promotes an online classroom environment that welcomes learning. I feel that main objectives of education for and about business are acheived through my philosophy on the importance of active learning with a focus on the practical nature of the curriculum.

I look forward to a great experience for you and I!