As college students across the country will tell you, the right teacher can make all the difference in the student experience in a course. From opening new possibilities to challenging old assumptions, instructors play a vital role in both the lives of students and the mission of the institution. Recognizing this, the Center for Transformative Teaching and Nebraska Honors developed the Honors Innovative Teaching Award three years ago to celebrate Honors faculty who utilize creative pedagogies to enhance student learning.
The award recognizes two Honors educators who have created effective and innovative learning environments each year. The recipients are awarded up to $1,000 each to support their continued professional development so they can both share their innovations and continue to develop student-centered learning experiences. Candidates are selected based on nominations filled out by Honors students.
This year’s winners are Elsbeth Magilton, director of externships and lecturer for the College of Law, and Joann Ross, coordinator for the university’s Staff Senate and Honors faculty fellow. Teachers like Magilton and Ross are instrumental to students’ development by shaping teaching and learning practices across campus. They serve as examples and inspiration for other instructors to follow. By using thoughtful and creative strategies, they have made their classrooms transformative spaces for their students. Ultimately, their courses become lifelong memories and change the way students see the world.
Magilton was selected for teaching the UHON 395H seminar “Space Odyssey: Surveying the Past, Present, and Future of Outer Space.” The course covers the history of the space industry, international relations in space, and the ethics of space exploration. One of the major moments in the course last fall was a visit by NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson.
Will Baker, a third-year secondary education student in Magilton’s class, said that her enthusiasm for the subject and dedication to her students made the course one of his favorites. “You could always tell that she was very passionate about what she was teaching and that made me excited to go to class each week. She was always happy to work with you, and you could tell that she always wanted to make sure you could thrive in her class.”
Magilton said the course’s wide-ranging discussions were a high point for her as well. “Designing and teaching this class twice over the year helped me fall back in love with the subject. Class discussions include space hotels, the use of animal testing in space, space junk, the Golden Dome, space-based military assets, and beyond. I want the students to walk away with the full gamut of space today.”
Ross was selected for teaching the UHON 298H seminar “Bioethics and the Law.” This course explored the intersection of law, ethics, and science. Ross encouraged students to engage with difficult topics, especially around issues of public health and individual freedom, which led students to embrace Ross’s high expectations.
“One of my favorite classes I’ve taken so far was ‘Bioethics & the Law,’ mostly thanks to Dr. Ross’ ability to introduce a deeply complicated subject in a way that made it easy to understand,” said Kensington Hazen, a third-year biological sciences major. Hazen highlighted the interactivity of class sessions, meaningful discussions, and Ross’s support of her students as key factors that made the class so successful.
Classmate Ella Heng, a fourth-year English, history, and women’s and gender studies triple major, echoed these points. “Dr. Ross brought abstract legal concepts to life. Her teaching allowed us to break down a complex legal and ethical topic into something deeply personal and understandable.”
Ross’ class also stood out to students because she challenged them learn through an immersive role-playing game about physician-assisted suicide, inspired by a a real-life 1976 court case. Heng said, “I found this experience helped me gain empathy for someone with a much different life than I have and helped me understand the key ethical perspectives on this complicated topic.”
In Honors and beyond, great teachers all share one thing in common–they create opportunities for students to make lasting contributions to their communities. Honors and the CTT are proud to celebrate just some of the many excellent teachers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
