Article archive / December 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 4. Source pages: 10.
The University of New Orleans International Alumni Association has named Dr. Gilda Reed recipient of its 2011-2012 Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Reed is a member of the psychology faculty at the University of New Orleans.
Dr. Reed will be given the $2000 award, and presented at the Fall Commencement Ceremony, in recognition of her excellence in teaching. Dr. Reed is a popular instructor in the U. of New Orleans psychology undergraduate program, teaching eight different courses on campus and online.
Reed told the Times, “I am honored to receive the award. Dr. Paul Frick [Chair of the UNO Psychology Department] keeps nominating me for UNO awards but this is the first time I have actually won.”
Executive Director of the UNO International Alumni Association, Pamela Meyer, wrote in a recent announcement, that the award is “… in gratitude to the faculty members who have positively impacted the lives of so many UNO students, helping them succeed by providing the highest quality teaching.”
The announcement also noted that the “Excellence in Teaching Award” is for those who have “distinguished themselves and the University of New Orleans in the academic area through their commitment to instructional excellence.”
Dr. Reed was chosen by a selection committee that included faculty, students, and alumni representatives.
In April 2012, Dr. Reed was named as only one of three Louisiana professors included in the Princeton Review’s Best 300 Professors. She was the only Louisiana psychology instructor named by the Princeton Review, who developed the top lines in collaboration with RateMyProfessor.com.
Princeton Review’s top list was developed from over 42,000 faculty members nationwide. From this group, 1000 professors were selected and then authors obtained further input from school administrators and students. The top 300 professors were selected and viewed as those who were most able to teach, motivate, inspire, and help make the coursework interesting to their students, as well as responsive and accessible.
The Times asked Dr. Reed for some of her tips for teaching. “Treat students with respect and fairness,” she said. “Answer all emails right away. No sarcasm ever. Never assume that a struggling student is lazy.”
“Test only what is actually taught in the classroom refraining from including obsolete fine print material. I write all of my own test questions to insure that only taught material is included in tests.”
Dr. Reed also recommends that professors give three different modes of note-taking aides for downloading and printing.
“ I allow students to take pictures of my notes at the end of lectures,” she said. “Since test questions require application, rather than parroting back memorized ‘stuff,’ this is not spoon-feeding them. It reduces anxiety and allows them to listen more attentively.”
She uses good cognitive science. “All test questions are designed to teach more and are in the mode of ‘All the following are true statements except one,’” she explained. “This forces them to read mostly true facts and to hopefully become adept in choosing the one that does not belong with the others.”
Dr. Gilda Reed (Courtesy photo)
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