Teaching Biography | Digital Portfolio

Teaching Portfolio

Keenan Shionalyn, Ph.D. Candidate, M.A.

Teaching Biography:
Experience and Course Descriptions

A complete teaching portfolio inclusive of teaching effectiveness is available by request.

University Courses:

Theatre 364: Theatre History II - 1500-1900 (Instructor of Record)

Location: Central Washington University

Quarters Taught: Winter 2025

Student Profile: 12 students, theatre majors

Course Description: Utilizing theories of theatre historiography, performance studies, and performance texts, this class examines the history of world theatre from 1500-1900.

Highlights: Incorporation of a salon-style final project introducing students to philosophical thinking within theatre.

Accomplishments: In-progress

Theatre 388: Introduction to Dramaturgy (Instructor of Record)

Location: Central Washington University

Quarters Taught: Winter 2025

Student Profile: 15 students, theatre majors

Course Description: Foundations in research as applied to production, including author, the world of the play, production history, critical analysis, images, and sources, with attention to the influences of social history, culture and environment on the production

Highlights: Live dramaturgical preparation aiding the opening of a newly translated play in Salt Lake City, UT. Seminar.

Accomplishments: Gamified "bake-off" style challenges, In-progress

Theatre 363: Theatre History I - Prehistory to 1500 (Instructor of Record)

Location: Central Washington University

Quarters Taught: Fall 2025

Student Profile: approx. 25 traditional students, theatre majors

Course Description: Utilizing theories of theatre historiography, performance studies, and performance texts, this class examines the origins of world theatre up until 1500.

Highlights: A blend of lecture and seminar to provide students a theoretical framework in which to interpret and make connections to historical works. I taught through the lens of extending beyond historiography, questions how history is written but also considering what history can become. Development of academic writing is central to my approach in this course.

Accomplishments: Centered a focus on in-class writing skills developing student's ability to communicate academically with supporting evidence.

Theatre 288: Script Analysis (Instructor of Record)

Location: Central Washington University

Quarters Taught: Fall 2025

Student Profile: approx. 15 traditional students, theatre majors

Course Description: A survey of foundational analytical and interpretative techniques used to study performance texts in preparation for collaboration and production.

Highlights: Small lecture and lab course teaching students various approaches to script analysis. My approach includes splitting the course into three sections: Textual Analysis, Production Analysis, and Literary Analysis. I combine group projects, individual work, research skills, and a laboratory model.

Accomplishments: Revamped course to encompass more analytical skills under a liberal arts model that includes both production and literary concerns.

Theatre 107: Introduction to Theatre (Instructor of Record)

Location: Central Washington University

Quarters Taught: Winter 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Fall 2025

Student Profile: approx. 30 major and non-major students, mostly freshman and sophomore

Course Description: This course is designed to introduce you to Theatre as a live art form, develop a critical awareness of theatrical elements, and explore collaborative learning. We will learn through lecture, discussion, observation, writing, and hands-on experience the forms, styles, and history of Theatre and performance. We will take on the role of scholar-artists who not only involve themselves in the creative process but also utilize scholarly techniques to critically analyze performance through Theatre as a liberal art. Using this scholarly lens, we will examine who is creating Theatre, for what purpose, and perhaps more importantly, whose voices are unheard or overshadowed. We will critically engage with a series of plays that allow us to see the utilization of Theatre to put the mirror up to society and advocate for social justice.

Highlights: Writing and discussion based learning meant to prepare the theatre major while remaining relevant to non-majors with an interest in theatre. Opportunities to apply learning to specialty fields within theatre. Read, discuss and views play by artists of color in addition to live department productions.

Accomplishments: Adapted and retooled course successfully to synchronous delivery due to COVID-19. Focused on works by artists beyond the traditional canon.

HUMA 1301: Great Questions Seminar (Instructor of Record)

Location: Austin Community College

Semesters Taught: Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

Student Profile: approx. 25 traditional and non-traditional students, non-major

Course Description: A study of representative samples of literature, art, and music of various periods and cultures from prehistory through the Renaissance. The study of the interrelationships of the arts and their philosophies emphasizes an understanding of human nature and the values of human life.

Highlights: Small seminar course focused on core texts and interpretation. Scaffolded as a first-year experience course to build writing and communication skills.

Accomplishments: Course delivered in a hybrid, asynchronous, and a synchronous modality. Revamped course rubrics to reflect college-level rigor, building student-voice, and progressive growth.

HUMA 1301: Introduction to Humanities Prehistory to Renaissance (Instructor of Record)

Location: Austin Community College

Semesters Taught: Fall 2023, Summer 2024, Fall 2024

Student Profile: approx. 30 traditional and non-traditional students, non-major; dual-enrollment inclusive

Highlights: Focused on small-group discussions and building analytical/interpretive skills. Pairing of traditional canonized texts alongside less represented works to build a deeper understanding of human culture.

Accomplishments: Course delivered in delivered in an asynchronous distance learning modality as well as an in-person course. Developed a scaffolded system for students to learn college level writing and research centered on student interpretation.

HUMA 1302: Introduction to Humanities Renaissance to Contemporary (Instructor of Record)

Location: Austin Community College

Semesters Taught: Spring 2023, Spring 2024

Student Profile: approx. 30 first-year students. Course designated as dual-enrollment but open to general population.

Accomplishments: Developed a inquiry based summative research presentation build over the semester scaffolded to build necessary components of drafting, editing, scholarly research, and personal interpretation. During second year, students presented to the college campus as a whole with incoming high school students attending.

UGS 303: The Power of Story (Graduate Teaching Assistant)

Location: The University of Texas at Austin

Semesters Taught: Fall 2022

Student Profile: approx. 60 first-year students, non-major. Co-teaching primary lecture and instructor of record for weekly seminar section.

Course Description: The course explores four threads of storytelling: What is a story? What are stories about?
Where do stories come from and what do they do? What is the power of your story?

Highlights: First-year student success course. Twice a week lecture paired with a small-group seminar discussion. Lecture course shared teaching duties amongst the three instructor, each student was assigned an instructor of record for their small-group seminar.

Accomplishments: Teaching team nominated and winner for Presidents' Associates Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award

Theatre 101: Appreciation of Theatre (Co-Teacher of Record)

Location: Central Washington University

Quarters Taught: Fall 2019, Winter 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Winter 2021

Student Profile: approx. 100 non-major students, mostly freshman and sophomore

Course Description: This course is designed to provide an overview of how stories are told through live performance in theatre and filmed plays. We will spend time exploring the basics of dramatic structure, historical/cultural context of theatre, design/production, acting and directing. We will view and evaluate live performance.

Highlights: Large class environment with a paired lab for focused attention. Opportunity to see and experience live theatre as part of coursework.

Accomplishments: Revamped course to focus on critique and appreciation of theatre over creation of performance to better meet the needs of the non-major. Adapted and retooled course successfully to asynchronous delivery due to COVID-19. Created scaffolded approach to a cumulative performance critique.

Dual-Enrollment Courses:

HUMA 1301: Introduction to Humanities Prehistory to Renaissance (Instructor of Record)

Location: Austin Community College

Semesters Taught: Fall 2023

Student Profile: approx. 30 traditional and non-traditional students, non-major; dual-enrollment inclusive

HUMA 1302: Introduction to Humanities Renaissance to Contemporary (Instructor of Record)

Location: Austin Community College

Semesters Taught: Spring 2023, Spring 2024

Student Profile: approx. 30 first-year students. Course designated as dual-enrollment but open to general population.

Theatre 107: Introduction to Theatre (Instructor of Record)

Location: Kingston High School/Central Washington University

Semester Taught: Spring 2019

Student Profile: approx. 5 high school students dual-enrolled for college credit. 15 high school students received high school credit only.

Course Description: This course is meant to introduce students to theatre as an art form. This overview course will expose students to theatre history including Greek, Elizabethan, Asian, Musical, and Theatre of the Absurd. Students will learn character building, script analysis, acting techniques, and directing. These topics will be discussed through readings, lecture, and practice including a produced play during the course. Students will submit detailed dramaturgy on the play, their character, and a discussion of their assigned role. Participation in the in-class production and attendance at an outside performance is required (at KHS or another Theatre).

Highlights: Dual-enrollment through CWU. Mixed classroom with both college credit and non college credit students. Allows the opportunity to take a semester to more fully explore what is traditionally taken during a quarter. Opportunity to see a live professional theatre performance at the 5th Avenue.

Accomplishments: First semester offering dual-enrollment for this course (previously Drama, HS only). Successfully allowed embodied learning through the creation of student written plays resulting in performance.

Math 153: Precalculus 1 (Instructor of Record)

Location: Kingston High School/Central Washington University

Semesters Taught: Fall 2017, Fall 2018

Student Profile: approx. 20 high school students dual-enrolled for college credit. 40 students received high school credit only.

Course Description: We will study advanced algebraic functions including Polynomials, Rational, Exponential, Logarithmic equations. We will also study the combination of equations using piece-wise functions. This class will explore these functions through graphing, solving, and applied problems. (Prerequisite: Passing Accuplacer score and approval of instructor)

Highlights: Earn college credit while still in high school. Fulfills math requirement for most college programs. Learn college material at a slower pace (6 more weeks than the University).

Accomplishments: Through partnership with CWU created dual-enrollment program at CWU. Maintained college level rigor while scaffolding to allow successful approach by high school age students.

Math 154: Precalculus 2 (Instructor of Record)

Location: Kingston High School/Central Washington University

Semesters Taught: Spring 2018, Spring 2019

Student Profile: approx. 20 high school students dual-enrolled for college credit. 40 students received high school credit only.

Highlights: Earn college credit while still in high school. Fulfills math requirement for most college programs. Learn college material at a slower pace (6 more weeks than the University).

Accomplishments: Through partnership with CWU created dual-enrollment program at CWU. Maintained college level rigor while scaffolding to allow successful approach by high school age students.

High School Courses:

State of Texas Teaching Certification for Theatre and Mathematics (2022-Current).
State of Washington Teaching Certification for Theatre and Mathetics (2015-2023; eligible for recertification)

Math Modeling

Location: Anderson High School

Semesters Taught: Spring 2022

GMAPS

Location: Anderson High School

Semesters Taught: Spring 2022

Algebra 1/MAPS

Location: Anderson High School

Semesters Taught: Spring 2022

Drama