Faculty Panel - Rooted in Legacy. Driven by Purpose.

While technology and teaching methods have changed in 125 years, at least one thing has stayed the same in higher education — an eagerness to learn. 

At a faculty panel Thursday afternoon, Ryan Pitcher,  clinical senior instructor in Energy Systems Technology, told the audience that when he offers online instruction with optional in-person lessons, his students seem eager to do both. 

“They’re still showing up, even though it’s not required,” he said. “Our students are invested, and they still want that face-to-face interaction.” 

Since the beginning, faculty have also consistently shown a desire for lifelong learning. 

“I see our faculty putting in that effort, getting our students where they need to be,” he said. “We’re evolving, learning new things, trying new approaches.” 

Pitcher was one of several faculty members participating in the ISU Celebration Week faculty panel, Rooted in Legacy. Driven by Purpose, moderated by President Robert Wagner. Panelists included Alan Frantz, professor emeritus in educational leadership, Anna Grinath, associate professor of biological sciences, John Ney, assistant professor of marketing and management, and Weijian Yan, assistant professor of school psychology and educational leadership. 

Yan said one of the biggest changes in her area of education has been the change to more asynchronous online curriculum. Although it changes the way students interact, it also gives a more personalized learning experience, where faculty can see individual student progress in real time. In addition, it has given instructors the opportunity to be creative with how they help create camaraderie among students. Yan said in her classes, students sometimes communicate through groups on social media, sharing in each other’s successes and struggles. 

“This change provides flexibility for both the instructor and the student,” she said. “But we still need to care about promoting human relationships. We still try to create community.”