Psychology professor C. Shawn Green is among thirteen faculty members who have been chosen to receive this year’s Distinguished Teaching Awards. For more than 70 years, the Distinguished Teaching Awards have honored exemplary achievements in teaching and recognized some of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s finest educators.
Green has been able to accomplish something rare: teaching students how learning happens and inspiring them to actually put the techniques into action. That approach grew from an experience with a discouraged student who struggled with the material and the exam. Green realized the issue wasn’t ability or effort, rather, it was misplaced effort. Green saw the opportunity to tap into his research into human learning and neuroplasticity to help teach this student — and so many others like them — how to study.
Since then, Green has grounded his psychology courses in the science of learning. He helps students replace ineffective habits with those that encourage true understanding. His classes emphasize active, experiential learning rather than simply encountering content. Students routinely say his courses reshape how they study throughout the rest of their college careers.
Green resists anonymity and builds genuine connection. Even in large lectures that can easily exceed 300 students, Green makes a point to regularly address each student by name.
“Professor Green’s approach not only engenders [students’] respect and trust but also provides them with learning practices that will continue to reap rewards throughout their college career and beyond. Thus, his impact on students’ success truly extends far beyond their time in his class and the specific content.” — Professor Allyson J. Bennett
This year’s ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. April 15 in the Great Hall of Memorial Union. Campus and community members are invited to attend. RSVP by March 25.
This article has been adapted from the original available at news.wisc.edu.