Kellie Keeling
Featured Teacher
Kellie Keeling, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Business Information and Analytics
Background
Kellie Keeling is dedicated to enhancing student engagement. She focuses on creating a dynamic learning environment that motivates students to actively participate in their education.
Defining Engagement
Kellie defines student engagement as the internal and external motivations that drive students to attend class and participate. “Engaged students are here to learn the content and interact with their peers,” she explains. This fosters critical thinking and a sense of wonder about learning, which Kellie believes is essential for all students.
Strategies for Engagement:
Kellie employs several strategies to promote engagement in her lessons:
- Interactive Activities: Each class includes activities that require collaboration and promote further exploration. She encourages students to want to continue to engage with the topics she teaches outside of the classroom.
- Feedback Mechanisms: Kellie asks individual students and the class at large for their thoughts on her instructional materials. “Understanding their needs helps me adapt my teaching,” she notes.
- Real-Life Relevance: By connecting lessons to real-world scenarios, Kellie builds relatability and challenges students to think critically. Many times, in this space, she sees herself as more of a facilitator rather than a teacher.
Challenges Faced
Kellie has encountered challenges with students who may feel disengaged as graduation approaches. “To combat ‘senioritis,’ I initiate conversations to understand their perspectives and what would enhance their engagement,” she explains. “Letting them tell me what they need has greatly increased student feedback.”
Reflective Practice
Kellie regularly reflects on her teaching practices. After teaching multiple sections of a course, she noticed differences in class dynamics, especially post-COVID. “Students were hesitant to collaborate, so I implemented structured group activities, fostering a more cooperative atmosphere,” she recallssays.
Looking Ahead
Kellie encourages students to think critically without relying solely on technology. She challenges them to pause and reflect before reaching for devices. “I want them to develop their own ideas first,” she emphasizes.
Closing Thoughts
Kellie’s commitment to fostering a collaborative and interactive learning environment highlights the importance of student involvement in education. By seeking students’ input on what motivates them and engaging in her own reflective practices, she inspires students to become active learners and critical thinkers.