“Teaching is one of those fields where you may never know the impact that you have,” said Lisa Borgerding, Ph.D., professor in the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies at Kent State University.
The lasting impact she has had on her students in preparing them for success in the workforce through hands-on learning experiences has resulted in her being recognized and honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award.
The recognition, sponsored by the Kent State Alumni Association, has been awarded to distinguished educators since 1967 and is the highest honor a tenured or tenure-track professor can receive.
Borgerding, who instructs the courses Teaching in Secondary Science and Topics in Secondary Science, told Kent State Today she wants her students to feel excited about gaining real-world experiences inside and outside of the classroom.
The approach she takes inside the classroom allows students studying to become middle or high school science teachers to practice their teaching skills through leading class lessons.
“We build in these micro-teaching experiences where they plan and teach lessons to each other,” Borgerding said. “Then we get to think about ‘what was working?’ ‘what can we fix?’ Each person as a teacher is different.”
She takes her instruction beyond the classroom so students can receive necessary exposure to their future careers.
One of these memorable moments she had with her students was during the Spring 2024 Semester when they took part in a solar eclipse project with NASA.
“We had gotten a small grant to build a telescope and be part of this project with NASA,” Borgerding said, “so that in real-time our telescope was sending data back to NASA, as like anybody along the path of totality, so then we could take images of the sun.”
She has also introduced her students to an array of relevant educational opportunities. She encourages students to join and present with her at Science Education Council of Ohio conferences. Practicing K-12 teachers are invited to provide professional insight to the classroom.
Borgerding’s teaching style is appreciated by her students because of the engaging experiences she provides for all the material she teaches.
“By allowing students to actually participate in what she was teaching, Dr. Borgerding showed us why different activities are beneficial for different things,” a student wrote in a letter of support. “Not only did Dr. Borgerding have us practice with the SSI unit, but she did this with every single unit she taught.”
Another student nominator mentioned how they appreciate the ways the instructor enhances their education.
“Dr. Borgerding’s pedagogy is rooted in active, inquiry-driven learning experiences,” the student wrote. “As a student, I feel as though I am driving my own learning experiences with her as a guide and facilitator, inspiring me to take on new challenges.”
Borgerding said that receiving this award was such an honor, and she feels immensely grateful to the students she has the opportunity to teach.
“I’m lucky because I have awesome students,” she said. “I would say that they make me better, and it is definitely one of the most satisfying parts of the job.”
The Distinguished and Outstanding Teaching Award recipients were honored on Oct. 18 at the University Teaching Council meeting.
Learn more about the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies.