Randy Isaacson, Frederic Bachman Lieber memorial award

Randy Isaacson Associate Professor of Education School of Education IU South Bend

Interim President Gerald Bepko, Isaacson and IU South Bend Chancellor Una Mae Reck at the Founders Day ceremony

Scholars whose subject of study is teaching itself face a particular challenge in the classroom, but Randy Isaacson meets the challenge head on.

“Professors who are teaching about teaching are scrutinized not only for what they teach, but also for how they teach,” he said. “I enjoy this focus because it gives me the opportunity not only to teach abstract concepts and theories, but also to model them for my students.”

In addition to modeling the theories he teaches, he helps students gain a direct experience of teaching through the peer mentoring program he developed for his education psychology class. Another of Isaacson’s important contributions is the co-founding and managing editorship of the electronic Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Those attending one of his classes or presentations invariably encounter Isaacson’s remarkable passion and enthusiasm for his subject. This presentation style is part of his effort to do more than impart knowledge. His goal is to inspire students, to help them become eager to learn.

Isaacson recognizes that professors of education need to maintain a strong connection with what school teachers are actually experiencing. That’s why he began coaching the boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams at a local high school. With a record of more than 300 wins for the school and 13 undefeated seasons with a summer track team, Isaacson is entitled to feel some satisfaction with his coaching skills.

Isaacson’s efforts both in and out of the classroom have not gone unnoticed. For his service to the youth of Indiana, former Gov. Evan Bayh honored him as a Sagamore of the Wabash. University teaching awards include the Teaching Excellence Recognition Award on three occasions and election to the university-wide IU Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching.

In addition to teaching and coaching, Isaacson has engaged in an array of educational activities, including serving as a mentor, peer observer, journal founder and editor, faculty developer, strategic experimenter, co-director of the University Center for Excellence in Teaching for 2001–2002, and as the driving force behind IUSB’s new Student Activities Center.

 

Randy Isaacson enjoys modeling the theories he is teaching and provides opportunities for experiential education. He also believes professors of education should keep a strong connection with what school teachers are doing in the field and, as a result, has had a good deal of experiential education of his own.