Assistant Professor Kathryn "Kaatie" Cooper took home the championship at this year's Great º£½ÇÔ´´ Teach-Off, a university-wide competition celebrating innovative classroom teaching.
The annual event, hosted by º£½ÇÔ´´'s Center for Teaching and Learning, invites faculty to present a five-minute demonstration of a teaching strategy, tool or technique they use in their courses. Viewers across campus cast votes for their favorites, with the champion crowned at the CTL's End of Year Celebration.
Cooper was honored for her presentation, "Video response assignments: Circumvent AI and get to know your students better."
Cooper, who joined the School of Media and Journalism faculty as an assistant professor, specializes in science and environmental communication — researching how journalists and scientists can connect with the public on complex, often politically charged topics.
Her work explores documentary, narrative and other strategies to overcome bias, promote civic engagement and shift public opinion. She also conducts research on teaching and learning, with a focus on developing strategies to enhance student motivation and self-efficacy.
"Kaatie exemplifies what great teaching looks like in a media and journalism program," said Emily Metzgar, director of the School of Media and Journalism. "She brings the same rigor and creativity to her classroom that she brings to her research, and this recognition is well deserved."
The Great º£½ÇÔ´´ Teach-Off draws competitors from across the university.