Teaching
Teaching Philosophy
I think of teaching as a collaborative exercise between myself and my students. I aim to find a way to help students grasp the key points from the readings so that we can build on this understanding with a critical examination of these points.
I am particularly interested in classroom engagement and the use of educational simulations. I can draw on a range of different simulation scenarios and a variety of alternative assessment measures. These include media projects such as podcasts, videos, or narrated PowerPoint projects. For my more advanced classes, I try to give students a chance to do actual research on a smaller scale. In my covert action class, I had students work with declassified records for their final papers.
As an educator, I am invested in the contemporary efforts to diversify the classroom. I try to create representational diversity by making sure my classes are accessible to students from different backgrounds. I also aim for conceptual diversity which I achieve through my careful selection of case studies and theoretical approaches.
Simulations
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A 60 minute war simulation recreating the Peloponnesian wars between Athens and Sparta over the island of Corcyra.
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A 60 minute simulation of elite bargaining during World War One. Includes international and internal competition dynamics that reflect regime type.
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A 90 minute turn based simulation modeling elite incentives in early modern European state formation. Models internal and international dynamics and includes economic and military mechanisms.
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A role playing simulation that puts students in an environment with limited information as they negotiate an international agreement. Most recently, I ran this simulation modeling the Iran Nuclear arms deal.
Courses Taught
Covert Action and International Relations
2017
International Relations through Comics
2018
Eurocentrism and International Political Theory
Expository Writing
2019
2021
Introduction to Comparative Politics
2023
Introduction to International Relations
2021
State Formation
Democracy and Lies
2019
2023
Student reviews
“I don’t think this course will be offered again, as Tarek got some sort of fellowship to teach it and won’t be here next semester. That being said, if you can bring him back ever, please do!!! It was the highlight of my semester and I loved it! He even gave me a page extension on my final paper — he allowed me to write five extra pages in order to prove my point, which I asked for because I was so
devoted to the topic. Please bring him back!”
“The Professor was fun and enthusiastic about the topic. He was very skillful in guiding the discussions and connecting the discussions to the readings.”
“This course is incredibly fascinating. The instructor is very well versed in every aspect of the studies covered as well as a friendly and concise professor. The discussion/seminar style of this course is
wonderful and truly is the best method in making sure students do the readings and are engaged”
“Tarek made the course highly applicable to the news we read everday, and made the course generally interesting. He gives comments that are logical, and if followed through well, will translate to a
”good grade”. I found his one to one conversations, as well as his approachability, very convenient for me.”
“The powerpoints are very nice and well structured. I really enjoyed my TA sections. I found them extremely helpful. I have to say out of all the other sections I have been in for other classes, Tarek was on of the best TAs thus far”