Professor Lin Ding, center, was honored earlier this year with The Ohio State University Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. In a surprise visit, his award was announced by Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Patrick Louchouarn (fourth from left). Also present to honor him were (L-R): Administrative Associate Ian Lee, Registration and Records Specialist Haley Goodson, Faculty Emerita Patti Brosnan, Professor and Chair Antoinette Miranda, Dean Don Pope-Davis, Alumni Association President Molly Ranz Calhoun, Executive Assistant to the Chair Rebekah Salyers, Clinical Assistant Professor Danene Fast and Academic Services Recruitment and Administration Andy Seibert.
Professor Lin Ding had just begun teaching class when an entourage of smiling university and college leaders, as well as department staff and other faculty, suddenly entered his Fontana Lab classroom in March.
Ding and his students stared in surprise. Then Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Patrick Louchouarn explained the interruption. “Good afternoon, everybody. We’re here to recognize your professor.” He turned to Ding. “You are one of 10 faculty here at the university to receive the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. So, congratulations.”
The room erupted in applause, accompanied by cheers.
“These are always the most exciting moments for us,” Louchouarn said, “when we recognize faculty for the work they love doing. The fact that you are one of only 10, out of more than 5,000 faculty eligible, shows how much this award means. Your nominations mention that you make people feel included, you support them, you mentor them. You are valued for teaching and engaging your students.”
The honor carries a monetary reward. The faculty member also is inducted into the university’s Academy of Teaching. “You will also be able to celebrate next fall with 100,000 fans in the ’Shoe at a football game,” Louchouarn said. “All the awardees will be recognized during halftime on the field.”
Professor Antoinette Miranda, chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning, said it was easy to write a letter supporting Ding’s nomination. “You are an asset to our department. I hope you know that,” she said. She emphasized that Ding teaches his full load of four courses per year and often more. This includes summer term to ensure current teachers can enroll in professional development.
In her letter, Miranda quoted comments from Ding’s past student evaluations of instruction: “He is an incredible instructor.” “He made me think critically … pushed my thinking and gave me a stronger foundation as a researcher.” “The readings were challenging in a good way.” “He did a great job of transitioning online after COVID 19.” “I consider one of my weaknesses to be in mathematics (to some degree), and his teaching helped me feel more confident (about) the content learned.”
Throughout the announcements, Ding remained silent. “I’m actually shaking,” he finally said during a pause. “I am totally surprised, totally speechless. I am humbled.”
Don Pope-Davis, dean of the college, thanked Ding for his teaching. “We do a lot of research, but sharing those innovations through our pedagogy is also a critical aspect of our work. So I thank you for the time you spend teaching for our college. You make us better as the result of your efforts.”
Molly Ranz Calhoun, president of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, was also present to congratulate Ding. “On behalf of the 600,000 alumni around the world, congratulations. What you do does make a difference. We’re so thankful for your passion and dedication in creating the next generation of thought leaders here at the university.”
Professor Ding excels in preparing future educators and faculty
Ding specializes in discipline-based science education research. He has extensive experience in student-centered learning, problem solving, scientific reasoning and educational assessment.
In recognition of his expertise, he recently received the American Association of Physics Teachers Fellow Award.
Ding often teaches multiple classes each semester. In them, he is known for using evidence-based pedagogical reforms to enhance teacher education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
On the day of the surprise award, he was teaching EDUTL 5721: Methods of Teaching STEM Secondary Science 1. It is the first of two courses that introduces pre-service teachers to the nature of science. It includes the philosophy of science, scientific methods and the history of science.
During spring semester, he also taught the course Advanced Study of Thinking, Learning and Assessment in STEM Education. In this doctoral seminar, he guided graduate students through foundational theories and methods for conducting research in STEM education.
Ding also enjoys advising two cohorts of undergraduate students in the Second-year Transformational Experience Program (STEP) at Ohio State. Students who sign up are mentored in small groups by faculty like Ding. They are guided through their choice of transformational experiences ranging from community building to personal growth and identity exploration. They propose a signature project that, upon approval, is funded.
Alumna, postdoc nominators praise Ding’s excellence and dedication
Li Chen, ’13 MA, Science Education, wrote in her nomination: “Dr. Ding genuinely cares about his students, not only for their intellectual development and professional growth, but also for the well-being of each student as a whole person. He encourages students to try out their ideas, be creative and bold, and not be afraid of making mistakes. …”
“He often reminds us that if we have not made mistakes during our learning, chances are we have not really learned. … (He) also creates a safe, open and equitable learning environment … in which … we can focus on learning from our errors. …”
Now a lecturer at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education, Chen further wrote: “Dr. Ding has worked tirelessly to incorporate a diversity of learning and teaching methods into instruction. He uses minds-on and hands-on activities, computer simulations and virtual realities to teach classes.”
“He also introduces many real-world examples to help us see the connections between classroom knowledge and our everyday life applications. His deep understandings about course contents, combined with his unparallel skills and passion for teaching, make his classes so unforgettable.”
Bashirah Ibrahim, who worked as a postdoctoral scholar with Ding and is now an assistant professor at Bahrain Teachers College, University of Bahrain, wrote in her nomination, “Dr. Ding is a born teacher. He has the ability to communicate ideas in terms understandable to students at all levels to develop a sense of belonging among them and incite active engagement, as stakeholders in their own learning.”
“Further, he has the skills to motivate students’ interest and curiosity by convincing learners that … what he teaches can be understood and done by all students. He equips students with tools and skills that will benefit them not only in their learning, but which will be an asset across different disciplines, in their everyday lives as well as in their future careers.”
“Above all, a crucial factor in teaching is the affective domain. Dr. Ding has easy communication, is approachable and establishes an atmosphere of friendliness which makes students feel at ease.”