Table of Contents

Dean's Forum

I have just returned from observing the Minnesota Professor of the Year teach. It was artistry in motion. There in the center of a classroom of thirty undergraduates, the professor makes teaching look so easy. The hours of planning and preparation are transparent as this teacher-scholar demonstrates for her future teachers the developmental stages of the two, three, and four-year-olds who were visiting the class.

I watched with pride as the professor simultaneously asked the children to perform certain tasks, explained to her students what the predicted outcome would be, played “rescue heroes” with the pre-school set and in general reminded each one of us why teaching is both art and science.

And when the lesson was over, I asked the pre-service students, “What is it that makes this professor so special?” Their answers came from all directions – “She’s simply the best!” “She is such a great role model.” “She cares that we learn and makes certain that we do.” “She has really high expectations.” “Hire ten more just like her!”

I tell you this story as our fall edition of Ed View goes to press because when you read in this edition that Robin Hasslen has been named the Minnesota Professor of the Year, I want you to know that she is a representative of the outstanding professors that we have in classroom after classroom in the College of Education.

As you review the stories in this edition of Ed View you will note the work of many of our exemplary professors. It is significant that we had two nominees from this college for the Professor of the Year award. Patricia Heine, Teacher Development, was the other candidate.

Mark Wagstaff, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport Science, whose discipline is in adventure education and outdoor education is another of our professors who played an important role in the college. As our year opened Wagstaff and Tom Heck, Campus Recreation, led the faculty through team-building exercises to emphasize collaboration and collegiality. Everyone had an opportunity to participate in various challenge course activities.

The fall opening was a precursor to our annual ADVANCE when the college meets to determine the goals and shared vision for the year. With “Serving Children in a Changing World” as our theme, we established two goals for 2002-2003: 1) collaboration, communication, and collegiality and 2) diversity and social justice. Throughout this issue of Ed View you will see specific examples of how those goals are being implemented.

We will continue to collaborate, to develop school and community partnerships, to research and serve, and to communicate with our many constituents about how we can do our work even better. We welcome your comments and your input. In the meantime, I think it is important for students, alumni, friends, and community partners to know that our commitment to outstanding teaching has never been stronger!

Table of Contents