April Hiscox Associate Professor Geography Arts and Sciences April Hiscox’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the Experiential Learning Cycle (ELC), emphasizing hands-on activities and scientific inquiry. By integrating data analysis, fieldwork, and semester-long projects, she aims to develop students' critical thinking skills and practical knowledge application. Her innovative approach includes offering students the option to design their own final projects, encouraging alternative mediums of expression such as poetry, rap, and coloring books. She also designed a unique course titled "Making Geography," centered around a collaborative quilt project, engaging students' creativity and spatial reasoning. Additionally, Hiscox implements cross-disciplinary concepts through a project involving building microcontroller air quality sensors, promoting collaborative learning and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Her experimental and adaptive teaching style has had a positive impact on student learning and engagement, leading to students pursuing geography as a minor and returning with appreciation for the transformative learning experiences.
Kristen Hogan Instructor Biological Sciences Arts and Sciences Kristen Hogan incorporates inquiry-based learning, integrative pedagogy, and collaborative methods into her innovative teaching. These theories promote critical thinking, real-world connections, and group learning, allowing students to think independently and work collaboratively. She created the Fundamental Genetics Laboratory Interview Project, where students interview professors to foster personal connections and learn about research and teaching interests. Hogan also developed Biological Principles I Laboratory Take-Home Lab Kits to provide hands-on experience and promote independent learning during the pandemic. Additionally, she is developing the Exploration of Infectious Diseases Abroad course, which immerses students in the biology and ethics of diseases through travel experiences. Lastly, Hogan implements exam study sessions that utilize Kahoot!. The sessions help students prepare for exams and identify their strengths and weaknesses.
James Risk Instructor History Arts and Sciences James Risk's teaching is informed by humanism and teaching history as inquiry and interpretation. Through his humanistic approach, he fosters compassion for his students, making himself more approachable and understanding of their diverse backgrounds and learning styles. He highlights the contributions of marginalized groups in history to show their value and worth. An innovative aspect of Risk's teaching is his use of games, such as role-playing scenarios and board games, to enhance student engagement and critical analysis. These games allow students to immerse themselves in historical situations, leading to higher attendance and participation. He also encourages students to acknowledge counterarguments and even argue against their beliefs to sharpen their own arguments and promote learning. Additionally, Risk emphasizes the use of primary sources as essential tools for understanding history, requiring students to analyze and transcribe handwritten documents to add accessibility to historical materials.
Stephen Shapiro Professor Sport & Entertainment Management Hospitality, Retail, & Sport Management Stephen Shapiro's teaching philosophy is based on social constructivism, emphasizing collaboration and knowledge development through interactions among peers. He incorporates group discussions, professor-student interactions, and real-life case studies in his classes to create an interactive learning environment. Shapiro also emphasizes a global perspective, incorporating international sport cases, guest lectures, and opportunities for students to work abroad in the sport and entertainment industry. Additionally, he embraces experiential learning, using guest speakers, project partnerships with organizations, and real-world case study analyses to prepare students for the industry. Shapiro's innovative approach includes real-time case study analysis, international teaching partnerships, and the development of dual-degree programs to provide students with a holistic and global perspective on the sport and entertainment industry.
Hengtao Tang Assistant Professor Educational Studies Education Hengtao Tang's teaching philosophy is centered around student-centered learning strategies such as project-based learning, problem-based learning, and inquiry-based learning. He aims to foster adaptive knowledge and transferable skills in students to address real-life problems with empathy and reflection. Tang implements project-based learning in his courses to create a student-centered learning environment, encouraging students to become C.A.R.E. learners (Competent, Adaptive, Reflective, Empathetic). He aligns course resources with professional expertise to ensure students are prepared for their careers. In his innovative teaching practices, Tang integrates educational technology tools to create knowledge-building communities and uses active learning strategies in online settings. He incorporates reflective environments and design thinking processes to build empathy with students' local context.
Cuizhen (Susan) Wang Professor Geography Arts and Sciences Susan Wang emphasizes spatial thinking in her teaching philosophy and adopts Kolb's experiential learning theory. She incorporates hands-on exercises and lab assignments with real-world digital imagery and open-access tools to trigger spatial thinking. Wang's passion for GIScience and experiential learning led her to develop an all-semester Internship in Geography course, bridging students with local agencies for career preparedness. She adapts cutting-edge GIS approaches, striving for a united curriculum across the GIScience cluster. Wang fosters community partnerships and maintains close communication with interns and supervisors, organizing group meetings for peer learning. Additionally, she established a 21-credit undergraduate certificate program in collaboration with the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation to hone analytical skills in spatial data-involved problem-solving.