The Summit Professor of Learning Technologies and Professor of Educational Technology, Richard Ferdig, Ph.D., has had a multitude of students come through his courses. His passion for teaching never wavers though. Every day is a new one for him. Each student has different preconceived notions, different goals and different reasons for joining his class.
“Learning is often interrupted by personal issues ranging from illnesses, friendships and getting married,” Ferdig told Today. “There are a lot of things that happen, and I think that’s the complexity of teaching, but the question is how you’ll deal with that.”
Teaching online, Ferdig can accommodate his students and show that he cares. As a professor of educational technology, he is aware of how technology can support a student’s learning in any situation.
“Although his students come from a variety of different disciplines, he supports each one in pursuing their own goals within their field as adult learners,” one of Ferdig’s former students wrote in a nomination letter. “He pushes students to succeed by always giving thoughtful feedback on assignments, encouraging us to go beyond the course itself to co-create useful technological products.”
Ferdig helped create the digital sciences program, which is now the School of Emerging Media and Technology. Six years after the program was started, a graduating doctoral student gave Ferdig a hug and warm greetings. It was at that moment he realized he had that student as a freshman in their first emerging media class.
“It’s cool to see everything come full circle, working on our expertise, partnering with people within our program, and developing new opportunities for students. I think I was more excited than she was,” Ferdig said.
Excitement was just one of the many emotions Ferdig felt being named one of the 2024 Distinguished Teaching Award recipients.
The recognition, sponsored by the Alumni Association, has been awarded to distinguished educators since 1967 and is the highest honor a tenured or tenure-track professor can receive.
Ferdig, who’s been working at since 2009, is also part of the Research Center for Educational Technology, and the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies.
Knowing who some of the finalists were, he said he was shocked to find out that he was one of the final recipients.
“When I got this award, it was one of the best things in my career," Ferdig said. “It’s like somebody is seeing and caring about the effort that you’re putting into the students.”
An amalgam of things students have said has impacted him and showcased their care for the professor. What Ferdig values the most is when students thank him for loving them for who they are. Whether that’s understanding their situation, giving them time, coming in early or staying late to explain a concept, students notice.
“I often found myself wondering how he managed to invest so much time and effort into his responses, which were always fresh, personalized and never recycled,” wrote a former graduate student nomination. “It amazed me that despite our interactions being entirely online, Dr. Ferdig's comments made me feel wholly uplifted, supported and seen.”
Putting students first is at the core of teaching because making sure the students know you care about each and every one of them is when you start to make a difference.
“When students give you that little feedback of loving me for who I am, that’s what keeps me going,” Ferdig said.
Learn more about the School of Emerging Media and Technology.
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