Br. Frank Rotsaert
(English)
A teacher’s job is many things, says Brother
Frank Rotsaert: being prepared, knowing the
materials and your students, and most of all,
letting go: “My job is to make them independent of me. If they have to come back to
me all the time then I haven’t done a good
job, because they’re not free, independent
learners.”
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you have your own points to make? Are you
claiming your education?”
Mark Schersten
(Philosophy)
For Mark Schersten, serving his sixth year
as Humanities Division chair and deep into
an assignment as co-chair of Siena’s North
Central accreditation committee, teaching is
the best part of his day. “Those 75 minutes
in class are a wonderful break” from the
administrative duties, he says. “They’re like
little vacations.”
The Brothers of the Holy Cross helped shape
the ideals Br. Frank holds up as a teacher:
that knowledge is important, learning is
important, students are important, and there are
no shortcuts to
learning. In addition, an essay by
Audrey Rich has
influenced
his
teaching a lot. In
the essay, Rich
Pat Schnapp, RSM, English
discusses the difference between claiming and simply receiv- Mark loves it when alumni “remember someing an education. Rich encourages students thing we did on a particular day,” and he’s
to go beyond just receiving an education, just as pleased when a current student suddenly beams with understanding, “when you
and to challenge themselves.
get somebody to see something.”
“I assign that essay and I refer to it throughout the year,” Frank says. “I say, you Mark aspired to be a scientist until a college
didn’t do your homework; this paper barely philosophy class made him rethink his career
scratches the surface; what do you think plans. Two particular professors “lit his fuse”
about what you read over the weekend—do in philosophy. One, a thorough, orderly,
“Magic is when you see in someone’s eyes
that she or he has picked up a bit of the spark,
when you can see students begin to respond
with some of the same enthusiasm.”
Supporting Teaching and Learning:
Teaching with Technology
Empowering faculty to teach more effectively with technology is one
goal of a collaborative program between Siena Heights University
and Adrian College. The SALT Program (Support for Advancement
of Learning and Teaching) is funded by a three-year $257,000 grant
from the Teagle Foundation. The grant aims to help faculty become
more comfortable and skilled with technology-assisted instruction,
to enhance teaching and learning through appropriate use of technology; and to share resources at AC and SHU. Peter Erdman of
Siena’s Computer and Information Sciences faculty is directing the
project.
Advancing technology has been a priority at
both Siena and Adrian for a decade, but use
of technology has been sporadic among faculty at both schools. Instead of simply adding
more technology-assisted instruction to more courses, the Teagle
program encourages “careful selection of appropriate technological
methodology and a thorough analysis of its effectiveness” in meeting the goals of each course, according to the grant application.
Also, instead of relying on outside consultants or technology experts,
the program aims to build on the strengths of current faculty. Core
faculty on both campuses will become “technology consultants in
residence,” providing one-to-one mentoring for colleagues looking
for technology advice and support.
almost old-fashioned lecturer, helped Mark
develop “a real good rooting in philosophy.”
The other was “an incredible guy” still
teaching in his 80s. Both were role models
for Mark, who says the real magic of teaching is that it energizes the teacher: “I go in, I
teach a class and I always get a really great
feeling.”
Pat Schnapp, RSM
(English)
Passion. Sister Pat Schnapp says that’s the
best thing she takes into the classroom: “I
confess to having a little ham in me. And I’m
aware from my own experience as a student
that it’s very, very helpful when the teacher
conveys his or her passion” for the subject,
“so I sometimes get a little zany, a little wild
and theatrical.”
Sharing that passion is one of her goals.
Magic is “when you see in someone’s eyes
that she or he has picked up a bit of the spark,
when you can see students begin to respond
with some of t