Teachers Noticing Teachers

Teachers Noticing Teachers is a program of peer mentoring designed to allow professors to observe the teaching of a particularly accomplished colleague. Although many of the TNT participants have themselves been extremely accomplished teachers, they have made enthusiastic, inquisitive and probing students. 

TNT participants will visit the host professor’s class once in the first few weeks and then everyone—participants, host teacher and the CTL director—will meet for lunch and talk. Conversation begins with two simple questions. “What did you see that you liked and that you think you could steal?” “What would you have to do in order to adapt that technique to your style and your class?”
 
From this simple beginning conversation roams over a variety of teaching topics depending on the host professor’s style and on the interests and concerns of professor-observers. Every group has provided rich conversation and has stimulated deep reflection into the nature of teaching and the fascinating complexity of teaching well. 

Below is a list of the professors who have been TNT host professors and some of what they excel at in the classroom. It has been a privilege to view each of these professors!  

April Maskiewicz, Biology, Fall 2010

Paul Schmelzenbach, Physics and Engineering, Spring, 2010

Hadley Wood, Literature, Journalism & Modern Languages, Fall, 2009

Dan Croy, Business and Management, Spring, 2009

Dan's high energy, high enthusiasm, and positive, encouraging style create maximum student engagement and model  good managerial technique.  His classroom style combines humor, research data, and the many broad areas that management draws from.  He uses technology in creative ways that model for students how thay can use technology in the work world they will eventually enter.  He combines a theoretical foundation with practical applications, fun with conceptual thinking, and technology with a solid literature-based curriculum.  His ability to organize and to think in complex patterns allows him to bring a rich environment to his classroom.

Bill Clemmons, Music, Fall 2008

    Teaches students to understand and love music theory
    Turns defeatest student attitude around and engage them in a challenging discipline

Kathleen Czech, Communication and Theatre, Spring, 2008

    Has a solid grasp of how to connect with students
    Demonstrates for students how theory and practice connect

Mike McKinney, Fall 2007

Leon Kugler, Kineseology, Spring 2007

Dean Nelson, Journalism, Fall 2006

Ted Anderson, Kinesiology, Spring 2005

Bruce Schooling, Business, Fall 2004

     Creating young leaders
    Overt and purposeful integration of faith and learning 

Karl Martin, Literature, Spring 2004

    Transforming a class into a community
    Empowering students to think independently

Maria Zack, Math and Computer Science, Fall 2003

    Active and communal learning
    Process orientation to skill acquisition

Mike Lodahl, Philosophy and Religion, Spring 2003

    Lip-service to heart-service: making religion real
    Teaching as illustration of one’s discipline at work

Linda Beail, History and Political Science, Fall 2002

    Teaching as a feminist
    Training independent thinkers

Bill Wood, History and Political Science, Spring 2002

    Speaking the truth in love
    Connecting students born after the Jonestown Massacre to Ancient History 

Mike McKinney, Literature, Fall 2001

    Virtues of using the Socratic method
    The Socratic method in a large class