Dr. Novacek has been an instructor or teaching assistant for several courses including Psychological Disorders (Abnormal Psychology), Psychology of Family Relationships, Statistics, and Research Methods. During graduate school, he was selected as a recipient for the On Recent Discoveries by Emory Researchers (ORDER) teaching fellowship. As an ORDER teacher-scholar, Dr. Novacek co-designed and co-taught a first-year seminar. He is an active guest lecturer for both undergraduate and graduate courses. He has previously taught at Pitzer College and Emory University.
Dr. Novacek's teaching philosophy centers on providing an inclusive environment conducive to the acquisition of knowledge and the development of skills that will be useful for students throughout their educational career and into their chosen profession. Active learning strategies that emphasize critical thinking, engagement with material, as well as oral and written communication not only build the framework for foundational knowledge, but also set the stage for independent and self-regulated learning. He utilizes active learning and thoughtful assignments which reflect this emphasis on critical thinking, communication, and self-regulated learning.