https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/Campus ConnectionPosts tagged with 'Michael Abler':2021-04-05T14:09:26.39Zhttps://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/transformative-teacher/Transformative teacher2021-04-05T14:09:26.39Z2021-04-05T14:09:26.39ZKyle Farrishttps://uwlax.edu/profile/kfarris/kfarris@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">2:09 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>5</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></p>
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<figcaption>UWL Biology Lecturer Renee Redman, shown in this 2018 photo, has received a 2021 Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award — a distinction given to just two instructors across the UW System. "I work with such dedicated, creative and phenomenal teachers," Redman says. "I do believe this is a reflection of the work that is done in my department and at UWL.”  </figcaption>
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<h3>UWL’s Renee Redman receives Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award </h3>
<p><span data-contrast="none">Renee Redman’s favorite part of her job is watching students grow before her eyes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Since&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">t</span><span data-contrast="none">h</span><span data-contrast="none">e</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;senior lecturer</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;teaches lower-level biology to first-year students and upper-level cell biology to juniors and seniors, she’s had a front-row seat to many memorable transformations.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“Making a connection with them, watching them grow as critical thinkers, helping them understand a difficult concept and then watching the&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">'</span><span data-contrast="none">aha moment</span><span data-contrast="none">’</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;when they figure it out is the</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">reason</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;I do this job,” says Redman, who’s taught at UWL since 2005. “The confidence they have as seniors compared to where they were as first-year students makes me smile. I’m so proud of how hard they work and what they achieve.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Of course, some of that progress can be credited to Redman’s teaching style and commitment to students — traits that landed&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">her</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;a 2021 Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award. Each year, only&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">two</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;instructors from across the UW System receive this award.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">It’s a distinction of which Redman is fully deserving, her colleagues say.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“Dr. Redman is a compassionate and dedicated educator who prioritizes student success and academic progress,” says Mark Sandheinrich, dean of the College of Science and Health. “She is patient and&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="auto">understanding, and</span><span data-contrast="auto">&nbsp;has a knack for developing ways to communicate challenging concepts that facilitate student learning. Renee is also&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="auto">a&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="auto">leader in the development and enhancement of the biology curriculum through innovations in course design and delivery. Students and faculty alike see her as a role model of educational excellence.</span><span data-contrast="auto">”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Mike Abler, chair of the Biology Department, says Redman makes every effort to build positive personal connections with her students.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“Dr. Redman has an amazing ability to meet students at their level of understanding and bring them to a higher level, regardless of where they start,”&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">he says</span><span data-contrast="none">. “Each student feels respected and appreciated in her classes. Dr. Redman wants her students to feel she is their advocate, not their adversary.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Redman</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;has</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;always been interested in biology — cell&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">biology in particular</span><span data-contrast="none">.&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">O</span><span data-contrast="none">ften, she says, people focus on the diversity of&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">organisms without noticing the diversity and differentiation of cells.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">She earned her bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She went on</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;to receive her doctorate in cell, molecular and structural biology from Northwestern Medical School.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">After teaching for eight years at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Redman and her husband moved to La Crosse, where she soon joined the Biology Department at UWL.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">She has taught an array of courses at both the lower and upper levels, including General Biology, Cell Biology, Biology for the Informed Citizen, anatomy and physiology labs, and First-Year Seminar.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Redman</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;never</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;gets bored with her specialty area</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;because there is always something to learn.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“Cell biology (in particular) is a constantly changing field,” she says. “We learn more every year about cell structure and function, signaling pathways and how cells work.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Redman notes that teaching during COVID-19 has presented many new challenges, including limited technology and the unique needs of students.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">To accommodate as many students as possible, she began posting more supplemental materials on Canvas</span><span data-contrast="none">, UWL'</span><span data-contrast="none">s online learning management system. Redman has a</span><span data-contrast="none">lso</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">creat</span><span data-contrast="none">ed</span><span data-contrast="none"> videos on the most challenging topics, and</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">made</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;herself more available to students outside&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">class.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“I think flexibility has been the most important adjustment over the past year,” she explains. “I definitely am looking forward to just being in the classroom with my students, discussing material and doing peer-based learning activities.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">While seeing her students succeed means more to Redman than any&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">individual accolade</span><span data-contrast="none">,&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">she&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">was</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;thrilled to receive the Board of Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Much of the credit, she adds, should go to her colleagues in the Biology Department.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“I was so very honored to be nominated (for the award) by UWL,” she says. “And now, to have been given the award by the Regents committee, I still find it hard to believe. I work with such dedicated, creative and phenomenal teachers … and I do believe this&nbsp;is a reflection of&nbsp;the work that is done in my department and at UWL.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2018-uwl-renee-redman-biology-0008.jpg/Medium" alt="UWL Biology Lecturer Renee Redman, shown in this 2018 photo, has received a 2021 Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award — a distinction given to just two instructors across the UW System. "I work with such dedicated, creative and phenomenal teachers," Redman says. "I do believe this is a reflection of the work that is done in my department and at UWL.”  " />
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<span class="title">Transformative teacher</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">2:09 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>5</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></span>
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UWL’s Renee Redman receives Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award
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