higher ed teaching portfolio
teaching philosophy
my teaching beliefs in a nutshell
Teaching as a Challenge & Privilege – Inspired by my own rigorous and dedicated educators, I set high expectations while providing unwavering support to students.
Four Core Tenets of My Teaching Approach:
Practice – Students learn by doing; screenwriting is best taught through hands-on experience and peer feedback.
Inquiry – Emphasizing critical thinking and Socratic questioning to deepen script analysis and storytelling techniques.
Engagement – Fostering a collaborative, student-centered workshop environment with interactive discussions and mentorship.
Compassion – Creating a psychologically safe space where students can share work, give constructive feedback, and develop resilience.
Holistic Student Development – Beyond writing scripts, students learn storytelling as a form of self-expression, personal growth, and industry preparation.
Commitment to Lifelong Learning – I continuously expand my expertise in screenwriting, film industry trends, and pedagogy to enhance student experiences.
diversity statement
my approach to inclusive learning
Engagement for All: I recognize that not all students participate the same way, so I offer multiple ways to engage—whether through discussion, written feedback, or one-on-one meetings.
Representation Matters: I intentionally select diverse films, scripts, and examples so all students feel seen and heard while fostering empathy across differences.
Culturally Responsive Teaching: I incorporate student voices, flexible assignments, and real-world connections to make learning meaningful.
Building a Supportive Space: My classes emphasize respect, community agreements, and student choice to create an inclusive environment.
Fair & Thoughtful Assessment: I provide bias-free evaluations and strengths-based feedback to help students grow.
Lifelong Learning: I continuously reflect on my own teaching practices and seek professional development in anti-bias education.
curriculum vitae (cv)
my professional journey
education + certifications
Google Project Management Certificate (2025) - Focused on Waterfall methodology, Agile philosophy, and Scrum principles.
ACUE & ACE Certificate in Effective Instruction (2022) – Certificate in Effective Instruction: Effective Online Teaching Practices.
MFA in Screenwriting, Boston University (2018) – GPA: 3.83/4.0, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Scholar.
BA in Film & TV and Writing, Texas Christian University (2014) – Magna Cum Laude, GPA: 3.83/4.0, Honors College Laureate.
professional development
Sundance Collab (2022): Completed "Directing: From Prepping Your Short Film to Submitting for Festivals."
ACUE TEAM Fellowship (2021-2022): Earned a 50-hour Credential in Effective College Instruction, plus multiple microcredentials in inclusive teaching, active learning, and student-centered course design.
Scottsdale CC CTL Workshops (2020-2021): Advanced training in online instruction, Canvas LMS, rubrics, screencasting, and student engagement tools.
Boston University SoTL Scholars Program (2017-2018): Designed and implemented a research-based teaching project on screenwriting workshops.
Boston University CTL Workshops (2017-2018): Training in lesson planning, student engagement, facilitating difficult conversations, and providing effective writing feedback.
Conference Attendance:
Austin Film Festival Screenwriters' Conference (2017-2019, 2022-2024) – Attended panels and participated in Pitch Fests.
Educational Innovation Conference (2018) – Explored advancements in teaching and learning.
IDEA Conference (2018) – Engaged with innovation across enterprise, social impact, arts, and culture.
teaching experience
Faculty Associate, Arizona State University (2022-Present) – Teach and mentor undergraduates in screenwriting fundamentals.
Screenwriting Coach & Consultant (2022-Present) – Empower clients to develop scripts with a focus on clarity and sustainable goals.
Adjunct Professor, Scottsdale Community College (2019-Present) – Design and teach screenwriting courses, including a short script incubator program.
Educator & Mentor, Made In Her Image (2021-2022) – Developed curriculum and facilitated workshops for BIPOC youth.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Boston University (2017-2018) – Led workshops and provided detailed script feedback to undergraduates.
college + community service
Honors Enrichment Advisor, ASU Barrett College (2024) – Mentoring honors students on advanced academic projects and enrichment activities.
Plays and Scripts Awards Judge & Presenter, Vortex Celebration (2022-2023) – Evaluated and presented awards for student-written plays and scripts.
Committee Member, REAP Development (2022) – Contributed to the creation of reflective and experiential applied learning practices.
Adjunct Faculty Representative, MCCCD Adjunct Faculty Association (2021-2022) – Represented adjunct faculty in collaboration efforts for improved campus policies and resources.
Film Festival Screener, PrideArts Chicago (2021) – Screened and evaluated films for LGBTQ+ film festival submissions.
Capstone Taskforce Member, Scottsdale School of Film+Theatre (2021) – Collaborated in the development of capstone projects for graduating film students.
Capstone Script Consultant, Scottsdale School of Film+Theatre (2019) – Provided guidance and feedback on senior students’ scriptwriting projects.
Scriptwriting Competition Judge, BEA Festival of Media Arts (2018-2019) – Judged entries for national screenwriting competition.
courses overview
what i teach
in person
live online
asynchronous
I got my start teaching in person, but when I began teaching in Spring 2020 (iykyk), I quickly adapted to the live online Zoom classroom—keeping energy and engagement high for two years before returning to in-person teaching. I’ve also taught asynchronously (or "on-your-time") in a fast-paced 7-week accelerated format. No matter the format, my goal is always the same: making sure students feel supported, engaged, and set up for success—whether we’re in a classroom, on a Zoom call, or connecting through discussion boards.
arizona state university
FMS209: Fundamentals of Screenwriting
Taught Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Introduction to the basics of screenwriting, providing students with essential tools to develop their storytelling skills and produce short film scripts.
View Syllabus + Course Schedule
FMP261: Principles of Screenwriting
Taught Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2025
Focuses on screenwriting fundamentals, from concept to script, including character development, structure, and dialogue.
View Recitation Schedule
scottsdale community college
FMT121: Story Theory for Film, TV & Media
Taught Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Explores storytelling theory across various media formats, focusing on narrative structure, themes, and character arcs.
View Syllabus | View Course Schedule
Short Script Incubator (Special Program)
Taught Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2022
An incubator program that nurtures the development of short film scripts, providing a collaborative environment for aspiring screenwriters.
View Program Schedule
FMT134: 16mm Film Workshop: Pre-Production
Taught Spring 2020
A hands-on workshop covering the essentials of pre-production for 16mm film, including budgeting, scheduling, and location scouting.
View Syllabus | View Course Schedule
FMT135: 16mm Film Workshop: Production
Taught Spring 2020
Focuses on the production process for 16mm film, from shooting techniques to managing a film set.
View Syllabus | View Course Schedule
boston university
FT310: Short Film Narrative Writing Workshop
Taught Fall 2017, Spring 2018
A workshop-based course guiding students through the development of short film scripts with an emphasis on narrative, structure, and character.
View Syllabus + Course Schedule
new course proposals
"Screenwriting is Rewriting"
A course focusing on the art of rewriting, exploring techniques for refining screenplays and enhancing their impact.
"Love Onscreen: Writing Romance, Rom-Coms, & Buddy-Love"
Examines the principles of writing romantic, romantic comedy, and buddy-love narratives.
"Introduction to Feature Screenwriting: The Big Idea to the Midpoint"
Guides students through the early stages of feature screenwriting, from concept to the midpoint of the story.
(Course outlines coming soon)
course evaluation ratings
scc fmt121: ‘story theory’ course eval ratings (fall 2024)
5
5
instructor effectiveness
instructor responsiveness
5
5
instructor helpfulness
instructor encouragement
5
5
assignment clarity
assignment relevancy
here’s what students are saying
Rebecca is so wonderful. She is so passionate about teaching this subject, and that has a positive impact on her class. She does not act superior but presents herself as friendly and helpful. She's open to everyone's ideas. She is pretty much the only reason I enjoyed this course at all.
Rebecca does an excellent job at guiding the workshops and getting great contributions out of everyone. All in-class activities are thoroughly engaging and fun. I have noticed the workshopping ability of the class go up as the semester has progressed, and now we are able to hit most of the important points without much guidance by Rebecca.
Rebecca knows how to fill silence with knowledge, helping us if we don't understand something. Her guidelines for feedback definitely helped me rephrase things that at first weren't very helpful. The way the critique section was broken up (good, needs work, general) really helped me look for the positive about a new draft and helped me to encourage other students, which I feel helped them understand how their script genuinely affected me.
Rebecca is excellent at communicating ideas. She is highly accessible to students, making the completion of assignments much less stressful. Attending her office hours or meeting with her to discuss a script is incredibly helpful. She has a great attitude toward students and treats them with respect.
Thank you so much for a wonderful semester. Honestly one the best TA’s I’ve had at BU. I’ve learned a lot, and really made me want to change my major. Unfortunately, I’m a junior and I’m too deep into my major to change. Haha but thank you for being a great teacher and mentor this semester.
Rebecca presents things in a fun, concise manner. She keeps from lecturing too much about screenwriting concepts, instead using activities and workshops to illustrate her points. The site she created for our workshop is an excellent, easy-to-use resource.
[T]hanks so much for a great semester. I had so much fun and I learned so much, and I'm looking forward to writing more scripts over the summer….Thanks again for everything. I hope we keep in touch, because you were the best TA. I mean it! Like from the survey at the very beginning, I knew you were awesome just because of your response. Most other TA's would have just been like "look forward to meeting you," like a generic response. But you took the time to really like get to know me, and all the others in the class, and I'm sure you know but like the little things go a long way. So thank you, I felt very comfortable in class at all times because it was such a casual and fun classroom environment, and I already miss everything even though I've only been home for a week haha….I look forward to seeing your Oscar speech, and I'll be sure to thank you in mine. (Unsolicited Student Email)
learning materials samples
my lessons, activities, and assignments
Storytelling is best learned by doing, which is why my classes are designed to be interactive, collaborative, and engaging. Whether through small group work, peer feedback, think-pair-share activities, class discussions, film analysis, or creative writing exercises, my goal is to help students develop their own voices while learning from each other.
I use a mix of films as case studies and inspiration, giving students a wide range of storytelling styles to analyze and learn from. Some of the films we explore include: Get Out, Booksmart, Coco, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
In FMT121: Story Theory for Film, TV & Media, students build their storytelling skills through a scaffolded series of assignments, where each assignment builds on the last. Some key assignments include:
Thematic Statement Brainstorming – What’s your story really about?
Protagonist’s Arc Brainstorming – How does your character grow and change?
Logline Development – Can you hook an audience in one sentence?
5 Major Plot Points – Mapping out the key beats of your film.
Feature Film Story Treatment – Writing a polished film treatment to bring your story to life.
Sequence A-H Scene List – Writing a complete detailed scene list for an entire feature film story.
Sequence A Script Pages – Writing the first 15-17 pages through the Inciting Incident of a feature film.
The following section showcases five sample learning materials, giving a glimpse into the kinds of activities, discussions, and projects that make my classes dynamic and engaging. Each one is designed to help students think critically, write boldly, and tell stories that matter.
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What It Is: An interactive first-day activity where students use four random elements to collaboratively generate unique story concepts, first as a class and then in small groups.
How It Builds on Previous Lessons:
Introduces the I do – We do – You do teaching model, scaffolding the creative process.
Sets the foundation for story generation techniques used throughout the semester, linking to Le Menu personal brainstorming exercises.
How It Supports Future Lessons:
Helps students overcome fear of originality by proving that different storytellers create vastly different narratives, even with the same prompts.
Prepares students for logline development and full screenplay creation, ensuring they have multiple story options to refine.
Why It’s Successful for Student Outcomes:
Encourages Quick Thinking: Forces students to generate ideas rapidly, preventing overthinking or self-censorship.
Fosters Collaboration: Small group storytelling highlights diverse perspectives and creative approaches.
Builds Confidence: Reinforces that every story has been told—but not by you, empowering students to embrace their unique voices.
Provides Immediate Feedback: Peer responses help students refine and strengthen their ideas early in the creative process.
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What It Is: A dynamic lesson plan from Story Theory for Film, TV & Media that guides students through understanding theme, crafting thematic statements, and exploring ethical storytelling.
How It Builds on Previous Lessons:
Builds on Movie Operating System (MOS) concepts introduced in the first class, using Coco as a case study to deepen students’ understanding of film structure.
Continues story generation exercises from Le Menu activity, encouraging students to refine their own ideas into feature film concepts.
How It Supports Future Lessons:
Lays the foundation for students to develop loglines, outlines, and full scripts in later classes.
Introduces ethical storytelling early so students can apply this framework to their own work throughout the semester.
Why It’s Successful:
Hands-on Learning: Students analyze real films (Get Out, Booksmart, Shrek), engage in group discussions, and complete writing exercises.
Multimedia Integration: Includes a YouTube video on theme development to bridge film analysis with personal storytelling.
Critical Thinking & Ethics: Encourages students to reflect on their responsibilities as storytellers, addressing diverse representation and harmful stereotypes.
Student-Centered Feedback: Peer critiques, group discussions, and exit tickets provide multiple touchpoints for engagement and reflection.
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What It Is: An interactive, small-group discussion activity where students analyze case studies on diverse media representation (Bottoms, Green Book vs. Black Panther, CODA).
How It Builds on Previous Lessons:
Expands on prior discussions about theme and storytelling ethics, reinforcing how films communicate ideas and social messages.
Encourages students to apply their understanding of thematic statements to real-world case studies.
How It Supports Future Lessons:
Provides a critical framework for students to evaluate representation in their own scripts and make informed storytelling choices.
Strengthens students' ability to engage in respectful, thoughtful discussions on diversity in media—a key skill for ethical storytelling.
Why It’s Successful for Student Outcomes:
Real-World Relevance: Connects theoretical concepts to contemporary films, making lessons more engaging and applicable.
Collaborative Learning: Encourages peer discussion, critical thinking, and active listening through structured group work.
Ethical Awareness: Reinforces the responsibility of writers to create nuanced, authentic representations in storytelling.
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What It Is: A capstone assignment for Story Theory for Film, TV & Media where students develop a professional-grade treatment for their original feature film concept.
How It Builds on Previous Lessons:
Synthesizes key storytelling elements from past assignments (Thematic Statement Brainstorming, Protagonist’s Arc Brainstorming, Logline, 5 Major Plot Points).
Reinforces the Movie Operating System (MOS) and 8-sequence structure, ensuring students apply story theory to their own work.
How It Supports Future Lessons:
Serves as the foundation for the Sequence A-H Scene List, helping students transition from treatment to screenplay format.
Strengthens students’ ability to articulate story structure, character arcs, and thematic depth, which is essential for script development.
Why It’s Successful for Student Outcomes:
Industry-Standard Practice: Students learn to craft a professional treatment, a key document for pitching and pre-production.
Comprehensive Feedback: Structured rubric provides targeted feedback on clarity, structure, and storytelling effectiveness.
Practical Application: Prepares students for writing full-length screenplays, ensuring they approach their work with a strong narrative foundation.
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What It Is: A collaborative group project where students analyze the structure of a film by breaking it down into its major acts, character arcs, and narrative beats, then present their findings using a structured slide deck.
How It Builds on Previous Lessons:
Reinforces knowledge from past lectures on Character, Structure, and Scene Writing, helping students apply theoretical concepts to real films.
Expands on prior discussions of 8 Sequence Signposts and Major Plot Points, giving students practical experience in identifying them within a narrative.
How It Supports Future Lessons:
Prepares students for individual screenplay development, teaching them how to apply structural analysis to their own stories.
Strengthens public speaking, teamwork, and critical analysis—essential skills for the film industry.
Why It’s Successful for Student Outcomes:
Collaborative Learning: Encourages peer-to-peer discussion and teamwork, fostering deeper engagement with story structure.
Hands-on Application: Students actively break down films into clear acts, reinforcing their understanding of screenwriting fundamentals.
Real-World Relevance: Mimics professional industry practices, where writers and filmmakers analyze successful films to improve their own storytelling.
Comprehensive Feedback: Includes peer and self-evaluations, allowing students to reflect on their contributions and refine their skills.