New Faculty Spotlight
Jane M. Arrington
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Department of Natural Sciences and Engineering
What makes a good teacher?
A good
teacher cares not only about a student’s success, but also about the student as
a person.
How do you engage students in
learning your subject matter?
I
engage students at the very first class with a worksheet that asks them to
explore the syllabus, so they know what the course is really about. During the
semester, they are at times the presenter of chemistry they learn about in the
news or also of short sections in the textbook. We also explore interactive
tutorials together in class.
What are your teaching goals?
- To gain an
understanding and appreciation of a “typical” USC Upstate student, as well as
the range in student diversity.
- To find
creative ways to reach struggling students.
- To become
more adept at gauging students' comprehension in class.
Roberta Gentry
Assistant Professor of Special Education
School of Education
What makes a good teacher?
- Being accessible
- Making/keeping learning fun
- Relevancy of material
- Sharing personal experiences and personal learning
How do you engage students in learning your subject matter?
- Opinion polls (electronic)
- Interactive journaling through blackboard
- Creating a community of learners
- Games, classroom discussion
- Through students implementing lessons learned in the classroom in their classrooms
What are your teaching goals?
- To teach required information per program and standards
- For students to master course objectives and goals
- To actively engage students
Stacy Burr, Ph.D.
Adjunct Instructor
School of Education
What makes a good teacher?
A
good teacher knows his/her students’ interests and abilities and uses that
knowledge in planning and implementing lessons.
How do you engage students in
learning your subject matter?
I engage
students by making everything we do connect to real life and what is practical
for their future teaching careers.
What are your teaching goals?
It
is my goal to inspire future teachers to influence their students positively
and to encourage them to be lifelong learners.