Adapting to the needs of students

2004-05 Outstanding Teacher...Kuan-Chou Chen

Kuan-Chou Chen, a Purdue Calumet associate professor of management, recently received the university's Outstanding Teacher Award for the 2004-05 academic year.

Chen, a Purdue Calumet faculty member since 2002, teaches a variety of courses and incorporates the latest computer technology and case studies in his classes.

"My teaching philosophy is based on some very basic principles derived from my experiences and expectations as a student and as a teacher," Chenn said. "Learning is cooperative, life-long and challenging. It should be relevant and enjoyable.

"An instructor must adapt to the needs of the student. The classroom must be a safe, comfortable place to learn. Each class is an opportunity to evaluate and to improve my performance as an instructor."

According to Judy Hack, Purdue Calumet professor and chair of the university faculty senate, Chen's colleagues have adopted many of his teaching strategies and indicated he has impacted their teaching styles.

"Students enjoy his teaching style, which they feel is unique," Hack said. "He incorporates many different teaching activities into the classroom such as team activities, personal exercises, participation and discussion, demonstration, personal assistance and lecture.

"One student remarked that his combination of intelligence, academic curiosity, hard work and a passion for knowledge is outstanding."

He has industry experience as a systems engineer and previous teaching experience at Lansing Community (Mich.) College, Davenport (Mich.) College, Purdue University West Lafayette, Ivy Tech State College and Bowling Green (Ohio) State University. He began his career at Purdue Calumet in the Department of Computer Information Systems and Information Technology and now teaches in the university's School of Management.

"Any award is encouragement to do more, but it also confirms what I've done in the past," Chen said. "Especially with teaching, not only how much knowledge or skills you have is important, but how you convey it to students."