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Volume 35 Issue 7

HOW TO TEACH: Innovative faculty members share their experiences and offer tips >

November 21st, 2002

Award-winning Pitt faculty got to show off their teaching innovation wares at last week's second annual "Teaching Excellence Fair," a half-day smorgasbord of instruction-related presentations. Co-sponsored by the Provost's office, the Provost's Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence (ACIE) and the Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education (CIDDE), the fair primarily is a forum for […]

Feature,Volume 35 Issue 7

HOW TO TEACH: His motto for students: Be prepared >

November 21st, 2002

Occasionally, one of John Poulakos's students will make the mistake of answering "I don't know" — or not replying at all — when Poulakos asks him or her about an assigned discussion topic. When this happens, Poulakos just stands there, staring at the student. Poulakos waits. And waits. And waits some more, for 10 minutes […]

Feature,Volume 35 Issue 7

HOW TO TEACH: Using technology to keep in touch >

November 21st, 2002

Can technology improve the integration of classroom and field experience? Two Pitt social work professors conducted a pilot study last year to determine if web-based resources could help bridge the distance graduate students feel from the University setting when they're out in the field for their practicum experience. Patricia Kolar and Kathryn Collins, faculty members […]

Feature,Volume 35 Issue 7

HOW TO TEACH: Using writing to promote learning >

November 21st, 2002

One of the oldest adages in education is: Write what you know. But a Pitt associate professor advocates a twist: Also write to learn what you know before you even know it. "What students are asked to do across the curriculum is what I would call 'performative writing': writing to demonstrate what knowledge you've acquired […]

Feature,Volume 35 Issue 7

HOW TO TEACH: Playing games in the classroom >

November 21st, 2002

Alex Trebek, move over. Now Pitt chemistry profs are hosting "Jeopardy!" the popular TV game show, right in the classroom. Chemistry senior lecturer Leonard Kogut and teaching assistant Michelle Price demonstrated the science-oriented Jeopardy game at the Nov. 15 Teaching Excellence Fair. Kogut joked that he was guest-hosting the demonstration for chemistry colleague Joe Grabowski, […]

Feature,Volume 35 Issue 7

HOW TO TEACH: Merging theory with practice >

November 21st, 2002

Pitt-Johnstown communication professor Diane Nicodemus used to be frustrated by students' comments such as, "My volunteer job is better than any course I ever took." Then she decided to do something about it. "This indicated to me that there was a disconnect between the classroom and experiential learning. I felt that theory and thought could […]

Feature,Volume 35 Issue 7

Starrett poetry prize awarded >

November 21st, 2002

Chinese-American poet Shao Wei is the 22nd winner of the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize, which is awarded by the University of Pittsburgh Press for an outstanding first book of poetry. Her manuscript, "Pulling a Dragon's Teeth" was selected from more than 1,000 entries and will be published by the Press in fall 2003. Established […]

Feature,Volume 35 Issue 7