Teaching Initiative Award

Julie Campbell, Ph.D.  

• Assistant Professor in Illinois State University's Psychology Department.

• Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2015.

The three most valuable or important methods/approaches/attitudes/etc. that I bring to my teaching practice are …

The three most valuable methods/approaches/attitudes that I bring to my teaching include: the knowledge that I will not be able to know everything that a student asks, that I have the ability to have either a positive or a negative effect on students' lives far into the future, and that I have as much to learn from students as they do from me.

The most challenging aspect of teaching for me is … (and what I do about it)

The most challenging aspect of teaching is limiting myself to the number of students that I can realistically mentor.  Taking on a lot of students for individual projects is a disservice to them.  I cannot give students the attention that they need if I agree to mentor more than a manageable number. 

I want to continue to improve my teaching in the following ways …

I would like to continue to find ways to incorporate new technology into the classroom.  This is especially important during this time of online learning.  I want to find ways to engage students in the lessons and help them to feel that we can make a strong connection even when we are not in the same room.  I would also like to find new activities that do not involve technology that will also engage students and lead to them new insights.

The one teaching technique or strategy that I would recommend to my colleagues to enhance student learning the most is …

Do not be afraid to look goofy and to share a bit about yourself.  Students tell me often that they remember a certain lecture because of a personal story that I told, and they associate the story with the lesson.

“The opportunity for growth occurs when we feel most uncomfortable.”