Grad students win awards for teaching
By ANDREW THAGARD
News Writer
The Graduate Student Union (GSU) Academic Affairs Committee recognized Michael Tomko of the English department and Derek Webb of the Political Science department for their work in undergraduate teaching. Tomko received the Outstanding Graduate Instructor Award and Webb was honored as the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant.
A panel of three graduate students reviewed the 16 nominations received, judging applicants on faculty appraisals, Teacher Course Evaluations (TCEs) and the course syllabus. Each judge independently ranked the applicants and the lists of the three were combined to arrive at the final decision.
"They [the winners] were both people we felt were the strongest applicants," said Stephanie Arnett, chairperson of the Academic Affairs Committee and one of the judges. "You got the sense … that they were tough graders but very well respected."
Tomko, a third-year graduate student at Notre Dame, teaches a course on literature and religion that focuses on the works of early to mid-twentieth-century writers including J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
"Stimulating interest isn't that difficult," he said. "It's more about channeling the enthusiasm students have in productive ways. These aren't just dead words on a page but a living expression of ourselves."
Tomko said that he has his class act out passages of text and works to force students to see these popular works in a different light.
Webb said that he also tries to inspire creative thinking among his students. The political science teaching assistant typically prepares handouts that review the extensive course readings and encourages discussion and debate.
"I think they [the students] appreciate the time I spend in preparation for class," he said.
Outside of class, Webb said that he dedicates a lot of time to grading students' papers, sometimes giving as much as a page in feedback. During class, he often tries to review the material in innovative and fun ways, creating games including "Judicial Jeopardy" and "Who Wants to be a Political Scientist."
"Students here are bright and work really hard," he said. "They expect a good T.A."
Both Tomko and Webb hope someday to teach full time as college professors, they said. Webb will return next semester as a teaching assistant for constitutional law and Tomko is taking a year off of to work on his dissertation.
Both said they were flattered to receive the award, which includes a cash prize of $125 and recognition at an awards dinner scheduled for May 16.
"It's definitely an honor," Webb said. "There are a lot of good T.A.s, especially in the Political Science Department."
Tomko received his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and a master's in English in Great Britain. Webb received his undergraduate degree from Yale.
All News Stories for Wednesday, May 7, 2003
