UW-River Falls
Associate Professor of Crop Science | Plant and Earth Science
What support is most important for faculty and instructors, specifically during the Covid-19 pandemic?
I appreciate low stakes opportunities for virtual professional development, especially related to online course delivery.
How has your understanding of teaching and learning changed over the years?
I hope that I am a much more empathetic teacher than I was when I first began teaching. My understanding of teaching and learning has included much more social science related to belonging, equity and minimizing student anxiety.
Are students different today than they were 10 or 20 years ago? How so?
I do believe that due to increased cost of education and living expenses and reduction in student grants, current students have many more financial obligations that make it harder to the commit to full-time education.
How have the needs of students changed over the years? What must faculty and instructors do to meet these changing needs?
I think that as K12 education has changed to be more about standardized testing, students are more fearful and unprepared to think critically at some of the world’s most pressing problems. I am still thinking about how to address these changing needs.
What is the role of the OPID Advisory Council in your life as a faculty or instructor?
I have enjoyed participating in the OPID-sponsored programs of Faculty College and WTFS.
