University of Wisconsin-Superior faculty members Praopan Pratoomchat, assistant professor of economics, and Nicholle Schuelke, assistant professor of teacher education, have been selected for the 2021–2022 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars Program.
The program provides UW faculty and teaching academic staff a unique opportunity to collaborate with other exceptional teachers from across the UW System and from various disciplines.
“I am very excited to be part of the program that is devoted to our student’s learning success,” said Pratoomchat. “I feel very honored to represent UW-Superior to collaborate with the exceptional faculty and staff from different disciplines across the UW System.”
In addition to discussing influential literature, participants are guided through systematic research focused on improving student learning through a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project, the 20th year of using this format.
“My main goal is to conduct teaching research to see the effect of using economics undergraduate research projects in classes,” said Pratoomchat. “I want to improve my students’ research skills and their awareness of the important economic issues being debated in the local community, especially economic impacts from the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19.”
Program participants come from all of the system’s 13 universities with the exception of UW-Madison, and one participant from UW Extended Campus. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the year-long program that usually begins in May will be postponed until Spring 2021. However, these 26 interdisciplinary faculty and lecturers, will meet this summer in an interim online community of practice, which will include a review of online instruction amid the pandemic.
“Participating in the Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program will be a great opportunity to share my ideas, learn how to design the appropriate research approach, and listen to the feedback from interdisciplinary scholars who have the same goal for student’s success,” said Pratoomchat. “I also hope the results of this research can contribute to the economic teaching community.”
The program and summer session will be co-directed and facilitated by Heather Pelzel, associate professor of biological sciences at UW-Whitewater, and Alison Staudinger, associate professor of democracy and justice studies, women’s and gender studies, and political science at UW-Green Bay. Both are alumni of the program.
The Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars Program is one of three programs offered by the UW System’s Office of Professional and Instructional Development (OPID). OPID supports UW System’s 13 Centers for Teaching and Learning in fostering a culture of teaching and learning excellence in Wisconsin. Together they offer professional development programs that ensure student learning in face-to-face, online, and blended learning environments.
