Outstanding University Teaching Award, Tenured
Jennifer Banning, Ph.D.
- Professor in Family and Consumer Sciences
- Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 2005
What is the core of your teaching philosophy in one sentence?
My core teaching beliefs have always been that I teach people, not content, and that students learn by doing.
The three most valuable or important methods/approaches/attitudes/etc. that I bring to my teaching practice are …
Authenticity, compassion, and sense of humor.
The most rewarding aspect of teaching for me is … (and why)
Watching students grow from when they enter their program to graduation, both in their content knowledge and their confidence and leadership abilities. It is rewarding to help mentor the future leaders of our field.
I want to improve my teaching in the following ways …
I want to continue learning how to create an anti-racist curriculum and how to facilitate a classroom environment that is welcoming and engaging for all learners.
Regarding my teaching accomplishments, I am proudest about …
I continue to be successful finding ways to connect with students and make their learning relevant. (That was a lot easier when I started teaching and was closer in age to students; now I am the age of their parents and it's more challenging to help them believe I understand them and want to help them succeed).
The one teaching technique or strategy that I would recommend to my colleagues to enhance student learning the most is …
Do what you are good at, lean into your strengths, and put them in your classroom. There are hundreds of ways to effectively teach--there is no way to do it exactly like someone else, especially if that's way outside of your comfort zone.
"The longer I teach, the more I realize I will never ‘know it all’ and that all learning is a continuing, life-long journey, not a destination."