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Show Good students work, succee~ Student success is learned By MELISSA RUGG JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Lincoln James, a freshma n psychology major from Salt Lake City, and Jessi~ f?ougt;as, a f resh man f ro m San Gabrie~ Calif., atten d class w htle listening acti vely. In the teacher education depar tment, Margaret E. Dixon, associate p rofessor, had only glowing words to say about all the students in her The Thunde rb ird Awards are given to a few of depar tment. She did, however, say that Neeley the st udents that have done muc h here at SUU. Brin Wilson and Da.rci Christiansen a re two However, there arc outstanding individuals all outstanding individuals. Dixon said that both are over campus. s uccessful academically and are "very creative and Valeen Archibald, assistant p rofessor in the ver y sensitive to the needs of students with theatre arts depar tment, said that is hard to disabilities." Wilson and Christiansen arc coc hoose an outstanding ind ividual because she presidents of the student counci l for exceptional co~ld _name so many. She did, however, say that students. They work enthusiastically and are Kras Fitzgerald, Lizanell Nyffeler, and Amanda known around the state from numerous Hughes a re some outstanding students in the conferences they have attended. Wilson , a senior theatre depar tment. Arch jbald said that Fitzgerald double major in special and elementar y education is a positive person w ho extends himself a nd from Payson, Utah , said that her family taught her "works ver y hard at improving h imself to "work hard for goals." academically a nd in othe r ways." Fitzgerald , a She also said that the faculty are the ones that senior theatre arts major from Draper, Utah, said are outstanding. Christiansen, also a senior with a that he attributed any s uccess to being given douhle major in special and elementary education many oppo r tunities. He said that he tries to stay as from Hyrum, Utah, said simply that she is a active as he can a nd "not say no, although "people person," and has "great communication so.me~imcs you have to." Every opportunity, he w ith professors and peers." said, 1s a new learni ng experience. Richard R. Tebhs, professor and chair of the Archibald said that Nyffelcr is always available, a math and computer science department said that good stude nt, and incredibly active. She also ever yone graduating in math br computer science added that Nyffclc r "takes responsibility of her is outstanding. own personal life and doesn 't expect to he spoonA few people from that list are Emily Robison fed ." and Troy Gardener. Nyffele r, a senior theatre education major from According to Tehhs, Robison , a senior math Price, Utah , attr ibuted her success to taking on education major from Overton , Nev., w ill make an many projects. She said that although somet imes . excellent teacher. she takes on too m uch, it always gets done. Tehbs said that he feels that she has tutored Hughes, a junior theatre ar ts major from more students than anyone else. Robison said that Roosevelt, Utah , takes responsibility seriously, the key is finding a balance between school and according to Arc hibald . social life. Hughes is the hoard manager of Stage 2, a nd She also commented that you need to "have ste pped forw ard at the last minute to he the s tage prior ities set and take time fo r yourself." manager for the o pera. Te hhs said that Gardene r, a senior com p uter Hughes said that she is actively involved in science major from Aurora, Colo., has "added a lot theatre and that he r husba nd makes he r an to [Sl!UJ." Garde ne r said "I don 't let little thi ngs o utstanding individual. really hothc r me . I'm an easy-going individual." going to class- if one doesn't show up to work, they are fired," said Wilks. One key thing students must do to he Being a good student is not easy for everyone; successful in college, especially upper-division It takes a fair amount of qedication and bard classes, is attend class and, not only attend but he an active listener during lectures, said Wilks. work to become a good student despite one 's When studying, there are some methods intellectual level or knowfedge. students can utilize to use time to its best One of the most important aspects of success in colle.gc is commitment to excellence, said Jill advantages and retain information , said Wilks. "The brain needs three things w hen studying. Wilks, learning sp ecialist for Student Support Services. Student.,; attend coJiege for various First it needs preparation ," said Wilks. reasons, b ut without commitment , w ithout To prepare , one must put aside outside factors deciding "this is w hat I really want; a college w hic h arc not related to the subject at hand and focus. Then, one education is valuable to me must preview and I am willing the text and look over any to invest time notes, according into it, " a student to Wilks. will find other "Next, a priorities which student should will exceed studying, actively input homework, and info ," said attending class, Wilks. To do according to this, one must Wilks. actively listen in class- not just commitment is attend and established, ~ expect the everything else ~ information to falls into place," ...;..~!!:, ..... sink in. "Good like the desire to students learn study and attend ._.i::::.::...;=~- - ~~ • • L - - l ~ how to control By KAMI EGAN FOCUS EDITOR 1 g _J~ a Emberly Johnson, a freshman elementary education major from Oren,, Utah, listens intently to the instructor of her class. Many students have 'spring/ever' and would rather be anywhere but in class. I lowever, despite warmer weather with promises of summer, the more serious students are still showing up to class. SUUans dub 'outsta-llding' instructors SUU students notice dedication, speak candidly about some of the best faculty members on campus By RHIANNON BENT JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Adon Arnett, lecturer of Engltsh, takes roll in his English 2110 class. Robert J ohnson, a freshman communication major from las Vegas, Nev., recently said that Arnett was a good instructor because 'he gets everyone Involved and /students/ learn from each other. ' What makes a good teache r? Is it someone w ho doesn't give. a final or gives an easy A? O r is it someone w ho is dedicated and cares about stude nts a nd their success? "A good teacher is someone w ho is willing to giye of h im o r herself and doesn't allow h usy work to get in the way of an education," said Stephe n Madsen , a junior psycho logy majo r from Willamina, O re. Othe r s uggestions given by stude nts include easy grading, cares about w hat he or s he is teaching, likes coming to work, and willing to give one-on-one time to a stude nt. In a recent s urvey, SUU stude nts were asked w ho their favorite teachers are and w hy. Carly Wilkins, a freshma n undecided major from He nde rson , Nev., said that o ne of her favorite teachers is Brian He uett, a communication lecturer. "He can keep stude nts' attention because he is so c reative with h is teach ing techniques." . Heuett said that he likes to involve students in the classroom. He does that through group presentations, public speeches, and lets students express their though ts, ideas, af.ld concerns on controversial issues. He also said that it's impo rtant to develop relationsh ips. "I like the stude nts to know that I, as their teac her, care about the welfare of their education w ithout getting into their personal lives." Heuctt's teaching philosophy Includes " prepar ing students intellectually, building confi de nce, and allowing students to know that they need a w illingness and desire to learn in order to succeed. "I never ask students to give me more than they arc fully capable of giving me in the classroom. I can 't ask more of the m ." Robert Johnston, a freshman communication major from Las Vegas. Nev., chose Adon Arnett, an English lecturer, as one of his favor ite teachers. Why? "He doesn't use the teache r-student relationship. He gets ever yone involved a nd we learn from each othe r," Johnston said. Arne tt likes to involve group work, free w r iti ng, collaborative critique sessions, and free discussio ns about essar.s in his classroom. He also uses something called "liheratory p edagogy," w h ich involves the teacher and stude nt learning from each other through dialogue. He said t_hat all these things lead to learning how to become a better writer and a more c ritical thinker. Arnett's main goal is "to get them [the students] to see why they're at school, to get the most out of it, and recognize the value of education." He said that he wants students to claim their own education because it's for them. Two teachers from the College of Science were also selected . They arc Stanley Hatfield, assistant professor of physical scie nce, and Bre nt Sorensen, also an assistant professor of physical science. About Hatfield, Amy Jo Mertllch , a senior art major from Spokane, Wash., said, "He teaches with enthusiasm and dedication. He cares about h is students and gets to know them ." Hatfield said that he always strives for a high energy level and enthusiasm in his classroom. "If you can bring an energy and passion in the classroom, you can transfer it to the studc nts. He also said that he likes to involve visual aids for a more positive learning e nvironment and stretch student minds w ith questions and situations to think about. Hatfield said that expectations should go both ways. "I ask myself, 'If I were a stude nt, w hat would my expectations be?' " He said that he wa nts to give stude nts a quality education that's fair and objective and allow them to look at the w orld at a differe nt pe rspective. "Sorensen's class is interesting a nd it's not just boring lecture. He makes astronomy real," said Debbi Lyman, a freshman business communication major from Las Vegas, Nev. Sorensen said that he likes to demonstrate concepts to keep students awake in class because "if they have something to relate to, it's easier to understand." He also uses humor to keep them as part of the discussion. "My success depends on the success of my students. If they fai l, I'm a failure. I didn't motivate and teach as well as I should have." He said that one of his teaching methods is keeping motivation and raising questions that lead to thinking. Sorensen said that a good cea.cher is someone who is available for extra help and motivation. 0 Listening, active learning, giving output, and talking are class, said Wilks. importa nt p arts of learning and retaining information. th~ w~nn dteh ring "A good stude nt - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - voice I e head- your mind doesn't wande r but is actively has an open mind and is tolerant of d iffere nces. participating and thinking about what is going [He or she} has diverse points of view and is, well-organized," said Richard Rop ers, associate on in class," said Wilks. professor of social science. Also, stude nts should use textbooks as a Good stude nts also have good habits, according reference hook instead of tr ying to read the to Ropers. "They plan out their daily activities, w hole thing. "Study notes and use the text as an alotting enough time for their obligations to school, family, work, and social life equaJly. e ncyclop edia. Also, one doesn't need to start at the begi nning- stude nts should start w here t.)ley Planning is key." "The issue is not one of skills, but of habits. arc willing to start," said Wilks. The main thing one needs to keep in mind while actively Most students have the skills to become better students, but they have not develop ed the habits inputting infor mation is to make sense of the necessar y to be successful in their -classes," said lecture and reading. Wilks. Finally, the hrain needs outp utOne factor w hic h leads to deficiency in p articipating in group projects with classwork is procrastination . interactive outlets for output, talking about w hat one has just According to Wilks, the re studied, taking a walk and are four causes for thinking about the subject hcing procrastination ; fear of failure, fear of success, studied. Also, by teach ing another fear of separation , and resentment of the system. person , one can learn a "The fears of separation substantial amount actively, - of being alie nated from according to Wilks. "The brain is like a leaky one's frie nds - and faucet. It retains resentment of the syste m as well as fear of failure are information , hut over time, that info leaks out. strong causes fo r student proarastination," said Wilks. By constantly reviewing, one can stop the faucet To overcome these obstacles, from leaking. the first ste p is pin-pointing the Reviewing is key," fears and , next, one m ust make a conscious conviction to overcome said Wilks. Wilks is the fears and procrastination. instructor for Good students don't do what poor University Studies 1310, students do, according to Eric Freden, s the Student Success Course. "It assistant professor of mathematics. Good students take initiative and accept ti. JtOPer helps students be successful in responsibility for their own actions and itt.cl'l" 1 anything, including school. There are elements of maste ry in ever ything. It is also an com plete homework assignments even if they demand more work and time than opportunity for students to prac tice habits," said expected. Good students realize th2t college is Wilks. For interested students, the course is listed in the class schedule book under University. work, according to Frcdcn. Studies. "Students should treat school like it's a job by \. |