Teaching
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching connects abstract concepts to real-world social issues, fostering student-centered active learning through structured, hands-on activities and individualized feedback. I approach teaching as an ongoing process of reflection and revision, continually refining my methods to better support student learning.
Example of My Teaching
A slide I designed for social statistics, covering measures of central tendency through guided practice and an applied example.
Courses
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Senior Capstone Seminar
Mentored undergraduate students on independent capstone research projects and provided feedback on their written work.
In-Person, Teaching Assistant, Spring 2026
Social Research Methods
Led weekly lab sessions covering both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
In-Person, Section Instructor & TA, Fall 2025 · Rating 4.3/5
Introduction to Social Statistics
Led lab sessions on statistical software applications using Excel.
In-Person, Section Instructor & TA, 2024–2025 · Rating 4.5/5 (Teachers ranked as excellent)
Law and Society
In-Person, Teaching Assistant, Fall 2021
America's Immigrant Society
In-Person, Teaching Assistant, Spring 2021
Sociology of Law
In-Person, Teaching Assistant, Fall 2020
State University of New York at Stony Brook
Statistical Methods in Sociology
Independently designed and taught a course on statistical methods commonly applied in sociological research.
In-Person, Instructor, Fall 2023 · Rating 4.93/5
Research Methods
In-Person, Teaching Assistant, 2022
American Society
In-Person, Teaching Assistant, 2022
Selected Classroom Activities
Introduction to Social Statistics
- Understanding the Central Limit Theorem
Students physically draw repeated samples from a population of characters to observe, hands-on, how sample means converge toward the population mean and standard error shrinks as sample size increases.
Social Research Methods
- Understanding Thematic Coding
Students practice thematic coding by reading real interview excerpts on COVID-era student experiences, identifying codes and themes, selecting supporting quotes, and comparing interpretations in small groups—building hands-on qualitative analysis skills.
Teaching Certificates
Dr. Sandra J. Finley Teacher Scholar Certificate
Awarded after three semesters of teaching, engagement with teaching scholarship, a pedagogical project, discipline-based service, and a teaching philosophy statement.
Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning, UIUC · 2026 May
Graduate Teacher Certificate
Awarded after two semesters of teaching, participation in teaching development programs, and reflection on student feedback with a consultant and faculty member.
Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning, UIUC · 2025 May
Student Testinomials
“Sohee Shin is one of the best teachers I've ever had. She is extremely sweet and listens to her students. She genuinely wants her students to do well... Unlike other professors she wants her students to actually learn, she doesn't make tests hard to be hard.”
“Sohee was incredibly kind and helpful and I'm not one for math but she made it easier than it is for me oftentimes. It was helpful to have her be so enthusiastic about sociology in terms of learning.”
“I thought the format was great and my professor did a great job being organized and providing us with resources and examples to understand thematerial. I learned a lot and was able to retain it all and stay engaged in thiscourse.”
“She was always patient and willing to explain concepts multiple times, even if she had already covered them before. Her dedication to helping students and answering questions, no matter how many times they were asked, was truly appreciated.”
“The part of this course that benefitted my learning the most was the lab section led by Sohee Shin. She explained concepts clearly, walked us through each step of the research process, and made complicated assignments feel manageable. Any time the lecture was confusing, she broke it down in a straightforward way that actually helped things click. She created an environment where students felt comfortable asking questions, and she always made sure we understood not just what to do, but why we were doing it. Her guidance is honestly what helped me stay on track in this class.”