Shaking things up during class

Dawn Wright is named Oregon Professor of Year for undergraduate teaching

By: Nick Ngo

Posted: 11/30/07

Sitting in her office with her dog running around, Dawn Wright has mixed emotions. She feels surprised, humbled and extremely honored that she was named Oregon's Professor of the Year.

"It's a neat award that they set up," said Wright, a professor in geosciences. "I'm extremely honored to be singled out that way for Oregon."

Wright received the award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, as well as the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching."It doesn't really surprise us, she's been nominated for teaching awards before," said Roger Nielsen, the department chair of geosciences.

"She teaches a whole variety of courses - from introductory level up to graduate level. She teaches courses that [cover] the whole [aspect] of educational experiences for our students."

Nielsen said Wright advises graduate students and helps out with their distance education program.

"She's one of the pioneers in the creation of the GIS program, which has over 100 students," Nielsen said.

Despite the nomination, Wright still looks up to a lot of faculty members on campus.

"I never thought of myself as one being singled out that way," Wright said. "I feel I'm still learning a lot. There are many faculty members who have inspired me over the years and who I have tried to emulate."

Observing Aaron Wolf, a professor in geosciences, Wright learned the value of consistently asking many quick and probing questions during a lecture in order to keep students engaged and thinking.

"I have been inspired by professor Elizabeth Sulzman, in crop and soil science, especially the games and activities that she used in her classes, even with hundreds of students," Wright said.

"In fact, I'd like to dedicate my award in part to her memory [Sulzman passed away this summer]."

With the award, Wright feels that she has done something right. To her, teaching is a never ending learning process.

Wright said that professors can also learn from their students - things they're doing right and wrong, and how to incorporate it into their lectures.

"I wanted to be a teacher who makes learning fun and makes students want more and more of it," Wright said. "I am definitely still working toward this goal."

Along with teaching graduate courses, Wright teaches several large enrollment classes.

Her oceanography class holds about 300 students and her geographic information science classes have 70.

"I'm in the situation where it's the large lecture hall and the trick is making sure everybody is engaged in learning and it's a huge challenge," Wright said.

To make sure everybody is following along, Wright moves around the classroom. One time she showed up in class dressed as a pirate.

"[It was] to shock the class and tie it into the oceanography theme," Wright said.

"The important thing is to keep trying, and the students admire that because the students want to learn and get something out of that class."

For her smaller classes, she makes students stand up and be part of a living map.

"That way they just don't sit and take notes, they actually participate to create a living map and help them understand the principles of this particular lecture," Wright said.

Through a press release, President Ed Ray said Wright has demonstrated the best in teaching.

"Professor Wright exemplifies the very best in undergraduate teaching," he said.

"That's because the pioneering science she brings to each of her courses is made personal and accessible by the genuine caring she conveys to each of her students."

Nielsen said that Wright's award is a wonderful recognition for OSU.

"Dawn is better known as a researcher - it's the combination of excellence in research and teaching that really makes OSU remarkable, and Dawn personifies that excellence in both," Nielsen said.

"As chair of geosciences, it's great that geosciences is recognized as a leader in teaching."

Next year, Wright will go on a sabbatical. She plans to do research in Denmark and southern California along with writing a textbook.

Wright said she won't miss teaching as the time off allows her to relax and come back with new material.

"[It gives me] time to rest and think about how I can improve my classes even more," Wright said. "That way, I can come back and be more encouraging."