OCR Text |
Show -- Ti tmOj Utah CfcwuliU DAVID ANDERSON Chronicle Feature Editor . Brzezowski's meticulous exams aim not only to prevent grade infla- oon, uui iu nap utcuciu biuucuu prove their mastery of organic chem-- . . . : "jstry xrf- u w; "When I read the exams I have., a good feeling of who has mastered the material, who has not and who has a superior mastery, who can . Christine Brzezowski says her approach to teaching is She doesn't illustrate organic old-fash-ion- -- chemistry with fancy reactions. She doesn't wow students with computer graphics. And if a student earns a C, that student gets a C. 11.. .u: r u i. organic chemistry" she says. "If you "' s? ,.J. llssC' Ws IP ' ' ' s' ' ' f sj Brzezowski is the recipient of three teaching awards: " the Associated Students of the Univenity of Utah Student Choice fcsT V Award, the Adjunct Faculty Award - - and the Presidential Teaching N Scholars Award. Some students complain that tests are demanding, and that class moves too quickly Yet Brzezowski's students recommended till ( her for awards. How does she do it? I really don't think I'm a better teacher than anyone else," she says modesdy. XW' "s, Brzezowski instead cites her coherent lectures, exacting exams iJlBf:'" m Chronicle Photo Hiadi Christine Brzezowski teaches students the are revolutionary. and concern for individual students. She says her work in the "trenches" is where she makes her contribution. HaNwrton - She earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from University of Wisconsin at Madison. There she married Fred v; West : Brzezowski moved to Utah when her husband was offered a position in the department of chemistry. She became an adjunct professor in 1990, and taught 30 classes in eight ' years. Brzezowski uses a teaching d " to make organic chemistry," a subject students consider difficult, ' -' style-designe- clear. 70 s sl niv J, jS v5 f I". sh is ' . J;$ :;i s , s : ' . ss ,s iSXi u ;, 'r Ik N - S s , s ..... ". 5f , s asvs'sts wNs v.'Avmuc. o 40tf s k . s, ,Srm sUl - i i ' I . Kvr.ix li I fS 1 receives t Brzezowski believes her three teaching awards lend credibility to adjunct professors. "I feel the awards give credibility to me personally, but they also give credibility to adjunct professors in general," she says. "The U. stresses its teaching mission, and the awards emphasize that adjunct faculty are a very important part of the teaching mission, and they have a place" : . Brzezowski, teaches jthrec days a;. week, which allows her to spend time at home with her two boys. As a workinsr motner. sne leeis sne is a role model for female students. Brzezowski and her husband hope to develop a liberal education class which would explore basic principles of organic chemistry. "For instance, people might pay $15.00 for 'naraiaY-'vitamiE," she "when can $1.50 for says, they pay Smith's brand vitamin E. The two are exactly identical. Vitamin E is a , genetic compound. Many basic things are very important to know." The tentative tide for the course is "Sex, Drugs Chemistry." and. " Organic ;; "With a tide like that," she says with a laugh, "we might be packed to the rafters ." jmm. J tl II I I I talitiori I I I I I I I I gust 6th ve First Unitan. Tha Itok fr, i:xS the preservation of Utah's colI I 0 For more information 485-407- Pr?70ZXV GJ&UST &TM congratulatory notes from people she's never met Utah Cougar -M 'Zi-tA .ssssss. salary increase. She also won recognition on campus. She says she is - - s s'X -- - s - s - - - s -- ' ts":i s sTi - clear and precise lectures," she says. "I make the material very obvious, and then leave time for questions. I prepare a very coherent lecture ... so that people can take notes, and then study out of their notes." Brzezowski says her lecture strategy works for most students. "It's not flashy, and not gimmicky, but for me it's very effective." Brzezowski says she spends much time writing exams. "I go really far on exams," she says. "I question students on what they know. The comments from students are that the exams are hard, but fair" 1 s . "I come in well prepared with s' ; s - 'ss J$rfVsVi s5 ' s Brzezowski attended winners' and received jprizes, cash awards and a receptions for her three awards, ning first class honors in chemistry. ATTENTION UNDERGRADUATES! The.Journal of Undergraduate Research will publish it's 7th edition this fall. Accepting submissions by students who did research as an undergraduate student at the University of Utah. Call 581-80for details. The deadline for submission of papers is July 22. Late submissions will be considered if space allows. ' says. Brzezowski grew up in Edmonton, Canada. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta, win-- , way, but her classes and peers agree the results ' old-fashion- ed minus, it really means something." Rrrprnwslci'ii annrnach trnt the attention of her students. A former teachers aide eathered aDDlication v aniu. ' uiaiviiaiD lui vuv ocuaenis suonuucu icacrs oi recommendation. ; "Students took it all in their own hands, she says. It was totally out side of my knowledge, initially." ; -One day, ASUU leaders entered Brzezowski's classroom. With per mission to interrupt the lecture, they announced that Brzezowski had won the Student Choice Award. "Winning was a big surprise" she Sak H)PniM Com te Preview Tuesday August eth 6 Thank you. ' wjpulation please |