Taylor- Cognella award
Taylor's techniques helping to mold future instructors
Dr. Alan Taylor’s knack for innovative instruction techniques led to him winning the Cognella Innovation in Teaching Award for Family Science at the National Council on Family Relations annual conference.
Taylor is an associate professor in the ECU Department of Human Development. He was lauded for leading a unique and hands-on based graduate-level instructor preparation program, meeting with program participants after each of their lecture teaching opportunities for review. He also offered meetings to discuss ways to connect with students beyond the traditional lecture environment.
The hands-on aspect of this program matches a pillar of Taylor’s teaching and mentorship philosophy.
“This particular teaching award is very meaningful to me as it was my department chair, Dr. Sharon Ballard, who approached me and asked if she could nominate me for it,” Taylor said. “Knowing she appreciates and sees that I am an effective instructor in the department is satisfying and significant to me. Then to have my application materials be reviewed and evaluated by family science colleagues and peers from universities around the country makes this award even more meaningful and valuable. In reality, this award is more about the students I get an opportunity to teach every day and every semester. I continually learn from them as they help in developing an engaging and powerful learning environment.”
Taylor was awarded the first-place honor. Second-place recognition went to Dr. Dee Hill-Zuganelli (Berea College) and Dr. Kerry Weil Tripp (University of Maryland).
The judging panel was impressed with Taylor’s thorough feedback exchanges with students, writing in his winner profile: “We believe this constructive, practical feedback is building and molding the next generation of instructors. Dr. Taylor’s dedication to innovative teaching doesn’t stop with his graduate-level instructor preparation program. Last year, he taught one of the largest classes offered in the HDFS department at East Carolina University, “Marriage and Family Relations,” with more than 125 students enrolled. Despite the shift to online teaching amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Taylor made it a priority to personally connect with his students and ensure they got the most out of the course.”
Cognella is based in California, focusing on instructor-driven, student-centric learning materials for higher education. Its website states Cognella values instructors and professionals who are inspired to create something a little different for students and the higher education market.
Taylor expressed how important motivated students are to his accomplishments.
“It is definitely a collaborative team effort,” he said. “I have been teaching family science courses for more than 25 years now and I immensely enjoy interreacting and providing educational experiences for those students wanting to learn more about families, relationships and human development.”