2008 Woodie Awards
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Tech-savy professor promoted
Jackson to direct General Education program at AU
By Lindsey Marburger on 2/22/07
AU announced this past week that they promoted Professor Patrick Thaddeus Jackson to director of the General Education program. The role of the director is to oversee the General Education program at AU, including course development and interconnectedness.
According to Jackson, two of his main goals for the position are to create novel second-level courses and to "enhance opportunities for cross-disciplinary work." Jackson said he will continue to teach courses in the School of International Service, where he is currently an associate professor.
Most have probably seen Jackson around campus; he was the guy wearing a full suit with suspenders and a Yankees baseball hat. While he was taking doctoral courses at Columbia, a history professor gave him two priceless keys to teaching: dress professionally and tell good stories. He takes both pieces of advice very seriously.
A few minutes into any conversation with Jackson, students begin to realize that they are going to be talking a lot longer than initially planned, because he is passionate, excitable and full of endless (yet highly entertaining) stories.
Jackson is an international politics specialist who has earned a reputation as a tech expert, known for using blogging, podcasting and a variety of other technology-driven media in and out of the classroom.
He says the goal of his technology use is "to meet the students were they live, and since you all [his students] are wired - that's the way you take in information and process things." That, and "it's just cool and effective," two words that personify his classroom.
One of his former World Politics students, Jeannine Ajello, a junior in the School of International Service, agrees that he is an "amazing" professor who is highly skilled at "weaving together elements of a discussion" and creating a "freeform and flexible" classroom that is highly conducive to learning.
Jackson's new position will continue his long-term dedication to teaching and learning, especially as related to the fundamentals of education.
According to Jackson, two of his main goals for the position are to create novel second-level courses and to "enhance opportunities for cross-disciplinary work." Jackson said he will continue to teach courses in the School of International Service, where he is currently an associate professor.
Most have probably seen Jackson around campus; he was the guy wearing a full suit with suspenders and a Yankees baseball hat. While he was taking doctoral courses at Columbia, a history professor gave him two priceless keys to teaching: dress professionally and tell good stories. He takes both pieces of advice very seriously.
A few minutes into any conversation with Jackson, students begin to realize that they are going to be talking a lot longer than initially planned, because he is passionate, excitable and full of endless (yet highly entertaining) stories.
Jackson is an international politics specialist who has earned a reputation as a tech expert, known for using blogging, podcasting and a variety of other technology-driven media in and out of the classroom.
He says the goal of his technology use is "to meet the students were they live, and since you all [his students] are wired - that's the way you take in information and process things." That, and "it's just cool and effective," two words that personify his classroom.
One of his former World Politics students, Jeannine Ajello, a junior in the School of International Service, agrees that he is an "amazing" professor who is highly skilled at "weaving together elements of a discussion" and creating a "freeform and flexible" classroom that is highly conducive to learning.
Jackson's new position will continue his long-term dedication to teaching and learning, especially as related to the fundamentals of education.
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