by Carol O. Hinckley Comment Editor How Brady titles four faculty does one get to be a “Presidential Distinguished Professor?’’ This year 35 faculty members were nominated by ‘Presidential Distinguished Professors’ colleagues across campus, screened by a committee of professors and students, and then personally examined in the classroom by ee must start long before the awards are made. Years of preparation, both in teaching technique and attitude toward teaching students, have culminated into the formation of these master teachers. To find out what sets them apart, let’s look into the classrooms of the four professors who will henceforth and forever be titled ‘Presidential Distinguished eros. aE S 20 Pr 2 - a a ate eh SRE TS a al PETES President Brady before the selections were made. But actually becoming a presidential distinguished professor “I try to teach students HOW to learn,”” emphasized Dr. Jean Bickmore White, professor of She also believes in being flexible “To learn a-language properly in class assignments. “If a student — comes to me with an idea that is good, I let them do it instead of the one I chose for the entire class. I try to get people actively involved,’’ she smiled. you must hear it spoken, speak it, and learn the culture, geography, economics and the history of the country as well,” he continued. And Dr. Moffett should know. He speaks fluent Spanish, French, Dr. White says she is a stickler for helping the students improve Italian, Portuguese, and German, talent to help students see the and has also studied Chinese and a little Russian. ‘Another thing I do is periodically enroll in other classes on the campus,” he said. ‘“‘It puts me in the role of the student and importance of effective communication. When asked if she was surprised viewpoint as students, and also enables me to observe different at the honor, she smilingly acknowledged her colleagues whom she said ‘“‘work very hard and do a lot of creative things.”’ own performance.” He said he is always looking for new and innovative teaching “But then,” she acknowledged, techniques to insure learning. “‘I “there are very few people around here who do not try to help students personally. We are very interested in the students.” This award is not the first for Dr. White. In 1971 she was use lots of tricks,’’ he grinned. ‘I get in the desk in my classroom, recognized as ‘‘Professor of the Year’”’ at WSC; and was awarded many senses as possible. Another method he has found not always right, or are presenting the ‘Outstanding Faculty Member’”’ successful is to make the students their own views.” in the School of Social Sciences in 1979. She originated and has continued to supervise the college’s legislative and local governmental know he cares about them. “I try their writing skills. Prior to coming to WSC she worked as a reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News, so she uses her intern programs. helps me to appreciate their teaching approaches to enhance my get hats, glasses, wigs, and mustaches -- my: goal is to get-my students to laugh every half hour.’ Moffett tries to appeal to as “The Art of Teaching.” It begins phone. They express complete surprise,’’ he smiled. “T put them out into the community to learn while they’re still students,’”’ she said. ‘Then, when they move into a community © and see something they don’t like, they’ll know how to ask the right questions about things like the tax base and the form of government -how to change what they don’t like.’’ One of the assignments for each When asked what he considered to be the reasons he was singled out from among the nearly 450 faculty on the WSC campus to receive this award. Dr. Oren E. Moffett, professor of foreign languages, said one of the reasons has to be that he tries to promote maximum student involvement in his classes. of her classes is to write a letter to “‘In my classes we do a lot of role a congressman. ““They don’t have to mail it,”” she quickly added, ‘‘but they do have to understand the way it is done.”’ playing -- put the languages to use,” he said, explaining that from the first day of class he speaks only the language being taught to the students. Page 4 He finds that this personal contact not only makes the student know he is concerned about them, but it also motivates them to strive for higher achievement in the class. class a full page on what he calls “I expect and demand outstanding performan my students. ‘I intend to reward your efforts by being equally demanding of myself. . .” And he lives up to the self-imposed challenge. It’s not unusual for studentst have to read 10 or 15 completely different orientations other than” the course textbook. 3] : will make lauditory marks on their *“‘And without exception,” he continued, ‘‘they have to read at least two books that are exams, also,”’ he continued. ‘‘Or I diametrically opposed to the will discuss with them any low grades after class, and try to help them understand what concept they’re missing.”’ He said he also is willing to discuss personal problems with his subject matter I am teaching.” ~ “‘Poor little buggars have to — struggle with that,” he smiled- “If they do exceptionally well, I students, and maintains an open-door policy to them. Can you sit back now and rest on this achievement? I questioned. “No! No!’’ he laughed. “‘I’m really on the spot now!”’ sho stu oth Yet tea Alston hands to each of number,” he said. | ‘“‘And if students are sources in government as well as in students involved in politics -- even when their political philosophies differ from her own. He pointed out the people wh have received this award the past two years. ‘“They are original and controversial in the sense that th tell students that the textbook is” not always 100% right, and are © honest enough to admit they aree) his students on the first day of — absent from the class about three times, I will call them on the tele- government the rest of their lives, and it is her aim to get all of her education,’’ smiled Dr. Richard ¥ Alston, professor of economics. to identify them as individuals in the class, and not just a political science. “It is important to make them think -- make them acquainted with the library to find out answers to their questions,”’ she continued. Dr. White said that everyone is going to be involved in some sort of “The mild mannered Clarkk personalities don’t make it in — but when the class is over, they understand the subject. | He complained that too often students are being what he al “‘spoon fed.” ‘The teacher says ‘Here are tht questions, and here are the answa -- come back in two weeks and te me what you know.” isk