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Home > Arthur F. Thurnau Professors/ Engaging Students in the Classroom and Beyond

Arthur F. Thurnau Professors/ Engaging Students in the Classroom and Beyond

Arthur F. Thurnau Professorships are awarded annually to tenured faculty who have made outstanding contributions to undergraduate education at the University of Michigan and who have had a demonstrable impact on the intellectual development and lives of their students. For more information about the Thurnau Professorship please see http://www.provost.umich.edu/programs/thurnau/index.html [2].

This series of videos demonstrates how these outstanding faculty stimulate student engagement in their courses. Research in a number of fields has shown that engaging students in the learning process is an important step in promoting deep and lasting learning.

Thurnau Professors and Student Engagement

Thurnau Professors [3]
Time 4:09

Thad Polk : Promoting Learning and Engagement in Large Gateway Courses

Thad Polk, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Psychology, offers
practical advice for promoting student engagement in a large gateway courses. He also discusses research findings on student learning that have led him to adopt these innovative teaching strategies.

Summary of the main points of Thad Polk's video (PDF) [4]

 

Thurnau Professors [5]
Time 5:42

Alford Young : Engaging Students in Critical Thinking

Professor Alford Young, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in Sociology and the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies (CAAS), discusses strategies for helping students develop the complex thinking skills central to learning in the social sciences. Using a variety of course materials and teaching strategies, Professor Young helps students develop their ability to ask good questions, examine their own assumptions, analyze course materials and social structures, and construct well-supported arguments.
Thurnau Professors [6]
Time 4:00

Alford Young : Discussing Challenging Issues

Professor Young discusses how he deals with difficult issues in the classroom. His approach includes cultivating a non-confrontational environment, encouraging students to share their perspectives and their questions in a professional manner, and using strategies such as in-class writing and group activities to help students learn from each other.
  Summary of the main points of Alford Young's videos (PDF) [7]

 

Thurnau Professors [8]
Time 7:40

Deborah Ball : Engaging Students in Large Classes

Deborah Ball, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Education, is skilled at engaging students in large classes. This video shows her working with students in a large, introductory, team-taught course (Public Policy 201) and discussing her approach to active engagement.

Summary of the main points of Deborah Ball's video (PDF) [9]

 

Thurnau Professors [10]
Time: 16:27

Scott Moore : Using Technology and Collaboration to Engage Students

Scott Moore, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Business, discusses how he revised a course to increase student motivation and engagement using project-based learning and technology tools, such as blogs and wikis. Navigate to Prof. Moore's class website: http://bit330f08.wikidot.com/ [11]

Summary of the main points of Scott Moore's video (PDF) [12]

Profiles of Thurnau Professors

Thurnau Professors [13]
Time: 7:55

Arthur F. Thurnau Professorships

Thurnau Professor and former Provost, Paul Courant, describes the Arthur F. Thurnau Professorships and highlights six faculty who have received the award:
Lorraine Gutierrez (Psychology and Social Work)
Freda Herseth (Voice)
Buzz Alexander (English)
Alec Gallimore (Aerospace Engineering)
Timothy McKay (Physics)
Elizabeth Moje (Education)
Each Thurnau Professor explains his or her approach to teaching and learning with a particular focus on student engagement.

For a list of all Thurnau Professors please see http://www.provost.umich.edu/programs/thurnau/thurnau_professors.html [14]

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 Promoting Excellence & Innovation in Teaching & Learning at U-M

Founded in 1962, the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) at the University of Michigan was the first teaching center in the country. CRLT partners with U-M faculty, graduate students, and administrators to promote a university culture that values and rewards teaching, respects and supports individual differences among learners, and encourages the creation of learning environments in which diverse students can learn and excel.

 Resources and Links

Source URL: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/faculty/Thurnau/ThurnauVideos

Links:
[1] http://www.web-source.net
[2] http://www.provost.umich.edu/programs/thurnau/index.html
[3] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/javascript:open6()
[4] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/sites/default/files/resource_files/Prof_Polk_Summary.pdf
[5] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/javascript:open5()
[6] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/javascript:open4()
[7] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/sites/default/files/resource_files/Young_Video_handout.pdf
[8] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/javascript:open1()
[9] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/sites/default/files/resource_files/Prof_Ball_Summary.pdf
[10] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/javascript:open2()
[11] http://bit330f08.wikidot.com/
[12] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/sites/default/files/resource_files/Prof_Moore_Summary.pdf
[13] http://www.crlt.umich.edu/javascript:open3()
[14] http://www.provost.umich.edu/programs/thurnau/thurnau_professors.html