Associate Dean of the College of Business
Faculty Director for the Undergraduate College of Leadership and Service (2004-Present)

Teaching Methods Especially Effective for First-Year Students
The supreme challenge in teaching a freshman seminar is getting students to speak up in class. Stated more academically, the challenge is to ignite students’ interests, overcome their evaluation apprehension, and engage them as active learners. I have found that one or two students “get it” from the start and serve as role models. Still, in a class of 20, most students are reluctant to speak up, and they are happy to let someone else hog the floor. Another challenge is breaking down cultural barriers. Students seem to crowd together in groups of like students, which further diffuses their responsibility to interact with other students in the class. I have had the most success with subgroup discussions and team projects. I simply pose a compelling question, divide the group in smaller subgroups, pose a question, ask for discussion, and then ask one person in each group to describe the group’s opinions to the rest of the class. I usually assign a team project that students work on during several classes and then present to the class. During class, we take time to share progress and seek advice from other class members. Of course, I provide guidance and feedback along the way. I have often been impressed by the students’ ability to coalesce as a team, use technology, deliver cogent and close-to-professional Power Points, and deliver clear, if not eloquent, messages. One group made a side-splitting video for a new product (a robot to help the elderly). By the way, I require students to have name tags so I can get to know them quickly and call them by name from the start. The usual introductions and an ice-breaker or two at the beginning helps students recognize common backgrounds and perceive different ways that they can contribute to the class.   

Manny has taught first-year seminars on the following topics: