Celebration of Excellence in Teaching What is You

Authors: Libby V Morris

Publish Date: 2015/01/10

Volume: 40, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-3

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Abstract

The University of Georgia’s Teaching Academy celebrates its 15th anniversary this fall The Academy began in 1999 with 13 charter members as part of an initiative by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Association for Higher Education to launch teaching academy campus programs nationwide Today with more than 100 members the UGA academy promotes excellence in teaching through workshops symposia and other events assists with university level instructional awards and receives funding for special events from the Office of the President and the Senior Vice President for Academic AffairsEach fall the academy inducts new members from nominations or being the recipient of a major universitywide teaching award New inductees are asked to write a two page statement of their teaching philosophy It is my joy to read these statements I am struck by the thoughtful engaged and creative faculty at the University of Georgia Their statements show an indepth careful consideration of their educational beliefs and pedagogy This fall as I read the 11 personal statements the word “engagement” stood out The newly elected members and former teaching scholars describe a strong passion for their disciplines interest in the student experience and perspective and acknowledgement of the importance of student growth and development into the future I hope you will be inspired by a few brief quotes from former and soontobe Teaching Academy membersIf I had to reduce my teaching philosophy to a single word it would be “engagement” My goal is to engage students—to keep them actively thinking about the material and its applications The tricky part is figuring out how to keep them engaged Law professorMy aim in the classroom can be summed up with an oftcited motto from EM Forster’s novel Howard’s End “Only Connect”…In my classes I work to make personal connections with students and encourage them to connect directly with the subjects we study English professorMy own approach to teaching mathematics has always been a form of storytelling Of course there are always specific skills and content that must be discussed and learned but unless I help to provide a story they are dry and lifeless and probably best left to a computer Mathematics professorThe successful teacher is not one who simply has all the right answers coupled with pristine oratorical skills through which he dispenses them I believe the successful teacher is one who is willing to not only reach out to the student but to reach into the student’s experience Music Professor

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