I do not view teaching to be a one-sided activity with the student passively receiving knowledge that is transferred by the teacher. Instead, my view of the teacher is that of a facilitator or a coach whose role is to work with students and help them in their individual learning process. This "active learner" model impacts the way I think about classes, the goals I set for myself as a teacher, and the way I deliver class material. My emphasis is on getting students to learn how to learn. "Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire," I read from W.B. Yeats, and I try to ignite students' enthusiasm for learning. Students interested in my class should be prepared to take ownership of their learning by engaging in active discussion and by collaborating with their classmates on a number of hands-on activities.