THIS IS AN
AWARD-WINNING
COACH
WITH A NEW
PLAYING
FIELD.
“This award and the
focused dedication
to student success
demonstrate that the
university puts a lot of
value in high-quality
teaching at Auburn.”
Stuart Loch, associate professor
Department of Physics,
College of Sciences and Mathematics
Stuart Loch, associate professor, Department of Physics,
College of Sciences and Mathematics, is just one of the many
exceptional faculty members at Auburn who coach students to
victory — in the classroom and lab. Recently honored with the
Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for
Excellence in Teaching, Loch was recognized for effective and
innovative teaching methods and a commitment to student
success through advising and mentoring.
And Loch’s “playing field” isn’t the traditional classroom.
His students are also benefitting from their new active
learning classroom, where they work together with him in a
space designed to foster collaborative learning and student
2
Journey/Fall: 2015
engagement. This is a “flipped” approach on teaching where
the professor doesn’t lecture the entire time — students come
to class prepared to tackle specific cooperative assignments.
The student-centered classroom features clustered seating,
glass boards, and monitors so students can connect their
electronic devices to use web-based resources during the
learning process. Students describe the room as energizing
and inviting, one that enables an active, more personal
learning experience. Loch reports that students become
more independent by helping each other, form a stronger
community, and see this space and this type of learning as
great preparation for their future work experiences.