2008 Teaching Initiative Award Winner
Brent Simonds, Ed.D.
- Ed.D. at Illinois State University (2003)
- Associate Professor, School of Communication
Teaching philosophy
Students need freedom within parameters so that they are active participants in making course content both personally and professionally rewarding.
Most important improvement that I have made in my teaching career
Realizing that my students lead incredibly busy, stressful lives. If I want them to be excited the about topics I teach, then I have to exhibit my own passion for the subject.
If you asked my students what makes me an effective teacher …
I would hope that they would say that I am brilliant yet able to communicate at their level, but I think that they would actually say that I’m goofy and I make them laugh.
Best compliment that I’ve received from a student
“I just wanted to take the time to personally thank you for being a passionate educator. I believe education is a beautiful gift and I recently decided that the only way I can repay all the wonderful teachers I've had is to one day become an educator.”
The one technique I would recommend to enhance student learning the most
Relate difficult course concepts to cultural examples that they find important or interesting.
I am proudest about
Winning the University Teaching Initiative Award and the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching in the same year.
