FALL/WINTER 2007
Top of their game
Each spring, College of Science students vote for the top 10 undergraduate teachers. We asked some of those voted “top teachers” to share what they think makes a great teacher.
Effective teachers can incorporate the elements of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. — Relevance, Enthusiasm, Sincerity, Persistence, Extra Effort, Challenge, and Trust — to inspire, motivate, and challenge students.
— Dennis Minchella, professor of biological sciences
Some of the most important attributes for an outstanding instructor are to treat the students with respect (both personally and intellectually), and to obtain their respect by being extremely well prepared, not being arbitrary in what you expect from them during the semester, and to display a true love for the material.
— Jean Chmielewski, A. W. Kramer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
I teach as if my own children were in my class. This comes naturally and requires no effort, because I consider our students to be our professional children.
— Mikhail Atallah, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science
The students must see my passion for physics, and they must see that I really care about them — I really want to see them do well.
— Nick Giordano, Hubert James Distinguished Professor of Physics 