2011 Teaching Initiative Award Winner

Lydia Kyei-Blankson, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Educational Research and Evaluation from Ohio University (2005)
Assistant Professor, Educational Administration and Foundations

Teaching philosophy

I believe in promoting faculty-student interaction, building a safe learning community, promoting active learning, providing prompt and constructive feedback, emphasizing time on task, communicating higher expectations, and recognizing diversity in learning while using both formative and summative evaluations to assess my performance as an instructor.

Goals for teaching

My goal for each student is to be able to use my course as a “building block” for their next course, for their dissertation, and for their career. My motto for each class is “Leave No Student Behind.” I know I have met that goal when I receive emails from students thanking me for preparing them for the next stage of their educational goals.

Best compliment from a student

“Lydia is one of the best professors I have had at ISU through undergrad and grad school. She teaches systematically and all assignments and activities have meaning. She is helpful and wants students to learn. Feedback is meaningful & quick. I learned an enormous amount from Lydia.”

Improving teaching over time

As an instructor, I believe in seeking formative feedback at various points in the semester. I also reflect on my teaching before, during, and after class to examine what and how I want to communicate, as well as my success in communicating the content. In addition, I take summative evaluations very seriously. I use both formative and summative evaluations to refine and vary my teaching style to meet students’ needs.

the University Seal — “My motto for each class is ‘Leave No Student Behind.’ I know I have met that goal when I receive emails from students to thank me for preparing them for the next stage of their educational goals.”