Teaching
At the graduate and undergraduate level, Dr. Keller has taught courses in nutrition assessment, clinical care, normal and life stage nutrition, aging and nutrition and critical appraisal.
Dr. Keller considers herself as a fellow-learner rather than “lecturer”. She strives to bring real-life case examples into class discussions and relies extensively on her own clinical and research experience to fuel these conversations.
Personal Philosophy on Teaching
“I see myself as a facilitator of each student’s educational journey, encouraging the use of intellect, critical thinking and individual skills that students bring to the learning environment. I believe effective learning occurs when students participate in class, take responsibility for the quality of their education and understand that learning is not a “terminal” activity. As health professionals are required to keep up to date in their area of practice, I see one of my primary objectives being the instillation of a “love for learning”. This love for learning will enable graduates to stretch their intellect and enrich their professional and personal activities. Such a graduate would be able to adapt to changing work situations, adopt new technologies and methodologies, and be confident that they can successfully compete in the work place.”
Dr. Keller won a college teaching award in 1998 and her teaching was highlighted in “Tough Profs” by Lori Bona Hunt, Guelph Alumnus, the University of Guelph Magazine. Winter 2001.
Supervision
Dr. Keller is dedicated to providing valuable research experiences for students. By fostering student participation in all aspects of the research, from question development to data collection, analysis and report writing; her undergraduate and graduate thesis students experience all of the skills required to carry out their own research in the field. In addition, extensive collaboration with community partners provides experience for graduate and undergraduate students in many areas of practice and demonstrates the value of extensive partnerships in applied research.
Training Opportunities
Training opportunities are in the areas of:
1) mealtime interventions for long term care, 2) predictors of malnutrition in acute care and nutrition care in hospitals, 3) educating family and formal caregivers on improving the mealtime experience, 4) nutrition and social relationships in older adults, 5) enhanced diets for longterm care, and 6) nutrition and falls. If you are interested in working with Dr. Keller, please contact her at her email address hkeller@uwaterloo.ca.
