Wednesday, July 2, 2003
|
Wednesday, July 2, 2003 |
Mayo honored by Board of RegentsJoseph A. Mayo, professor of psychology at Gordon College, recently received recognition from the University System Board of Regents for his research on creating hands-on learning environments for his students. As one of three faculty members from the 34-unit University System of Georgia to earn an academic excellence award for student-focused research on effective teaching, Mayo was selected as the recipient of the 2003 Regents' Research in Undergraduate Education Award for two-year and state colleges. On the faculty at Gordon College since 1989, Mayo has gained national recognition for his work. He has served as a reviewer for the Journal of Constructivist Psychology, published his research in peer-reviewed journals, and presented his work at major teaching conferences. Over the past three years, Mayo has undertaken an active research program in his freshman- and sophomore-level psychology courses. In studying the effectiveness of varied instructional practices, he has conducted systematic assessments to determine the extent to which these practices have contributed to student learning. The award commended Mayo for actively involving students in his research into constructivist educational innovations, thereby challenging students to draw from prior knowledge and personal experiences in "constructing" a more useful knowledge base when exposed to new information. "I believe that students are best equipped to comprehend new ideas when they actively and interactively relate theories and text to personally meaningful situations in their own lives and the lives of those around them," said Mayo. "The fact that Gordon College advocates for teaching excellence has allowed me the opportunity to conduct original research within the classroom that, in turn, has translated into heightened success in both my own instruction and my students' abilities to learn." "It is unusual to find faculty members actively involving students in research at the two-year college level," said Dr. Lawrence Weill, president of Gordon College. "I am pleased to see Dr. Mayo's work recognized by the University System, and especially pleased by the positive impact this is having on our students." Mayo and his wife, Becki, live in Fayetteville with their three children, Hannah, Aaron, and Jared. Gordon College, a two-year unit of the University System of Georgia, has held college-level classes in Fayette County for more than ten years. The home campus, located in Barnesville, has an enrollment of more than 3,100 students, residential housing for 600 students, and is among the fastest growing schools in the university system.
|
||