2010 Outstanding University Teacher Award Winner Category II
Carol Lind, Ph.D.
- Ph.D. in English Studies from Illinois State University (2007)
- Instructional Assistant Professor, English Department
Teaching philosophy
At the core of my teaching philosophy is the delight of a shared learning experience—we are, all of us, teachers and learners.
Three most valuable approaches that I bring to my teaching practice
- Humor
- It allows us to be curious and involved and, sometimes, even a little bit goofy, but it also frees us to interact with the material and with each other in ways that we might not otherwise feel comfortable doing.
- Respect
- I respect my students as thoughtful, intellectual adults and, in return, they respect me. They know that I have their best interests at heart, so they trust me on those days when we might be doing something outside of their normal classroom experience.
- Creativity
- I try to make every class as creative as I possibly can. I want the student to come to class because they never know what to expect.
Best compliment from a student
A student approached me on the quad at the end of the semester and said, “Dr. Lind, I know that I only earned a D in your class, but I want you to know that I learned SO much! Thank you.” That was, without a doubt, the best compliment I could have received.
Least favorite part of teaching
Grading. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way, but I wish that students could be in class for the love of learning rather than for the grade. I don’t know a way around them, but grades get in the way much more than they motivate.
