Good Teaching
In Their Own Words - From the Winners of the Regents 2001 Teaching Excellence Awards

Gary Gilmore receives his 2001 teaching award from Regent Patrick Boyle.

Gary Gilmore, Professor and Director of Community Health Programs, UW-La Crosse and UW-Extension

"I value my joint appointment in the UW System because it enables me to bring actual and ongoing community-based experiences into the learning environment.

"Daily, I think about the desire of students and program participants to learn about current issues in community health and epidemiology, to enhance their skills, to access the most pertinent information and data, to interact with leaders in the health-related professions, and to become viable, productive contributors to their profession and communities. In doing so, I never take my responsibilities for granted."

Cyrena N. Pondrom receives her 2001 teaching award from Regent Patrick Boyle.

Cyrena N. Pondrom, Professor of English, UW-Madison

"[There are] things which have seemed consistent characteristics of good teaching throughout my career, yet nonetheless a great deal has changed, in both the 'what' and the 'how.' First, the canon has changed, and I take pride in having contributed through both my research and teaching to some of that expansion. When I taught my first literature class, I could look throughout the catalogue and never find a woman writer, unless perchance someone happened to include Jane Austen. Today I offer a single-author course on Gertrude Stein, and my department has a doctoral specialty in women's literature and gender studies.

"Whereas when I began teaching I think I regarded my obligation as principally to provide information and understanding, today I regard it as being to stimulate the acquisition of information, skills, understanding, and my teaching styles have changed accordingly. . . . Once perhaps willing to accept an obligation to be an authority, today I am acutely aware of the importance of empowering students as collaborative scholars in a common enterprise, in which their role is as active as mine."

UW-Oshkosh Professors Estella Lauter and Paul Klemp receive their 2001 teaching award from Regent Patrick Boyle. Photos by Jay Salvo.

Department of English, UW-Oshkosh

"The members of the UW-Oshkosh English Department, a collegial group of talented teachers-scholars, share a vision of rigorous curricular goals and pedagogical responsibilities. The philosophy that helped create this evolving departmental identity during the past decade ensures our continued growth as we begin a new century: we believe that an environment of respect for a diversity of views, values, personalities, and backgrounds fosters a creative and cooperative atmosphere in which teachers and students can reach their potential. Informing the department's significant enhancements to our curriculum and additions to the faculty since the mid-1990s, this philosophy guides us as we strive for excellence in teaching and learning."