From his suburban upbringing and first job stacking hay bales to his current position at Piedmont University, Dr. Stephen Whited’s journey to academia has been inspired by influential mentors and educators at Georgia State University [Drs. Victor Kramer, Thomas McHaney, William Sessions] and the University of Kentucky [Wendell Berry, James Baker Hall, and Guy Davenport], where he found his true calling in teaching. Dr. Whited’s commitment to his students is evident in his love for fostering a passion for reading through engaging discussions and the use of Hawkes Learning’s English and composition materials, providing students with a unique and effective learning experience.
We sat down for an exclusive interview with Dr. Whited as he shared insights on successful teaching, classroom structures, and the challenges faced by instructors today. Keep reading to hear more about his journey from a book-loving, guitar-playing kid to a passionate English professor, dedicated to inspiring young minds.
Unveiling the Art of Successful Teaching
Throughout his esteemed career, Dr. Whited has embraced a profound love for literature, art, and critical inquiry. From Georgia State University to the University of Kentucky, his journey has been a tapestry of diverse experiences, shaping the inspiring educator he is today.
What lies at the heart of being a successful teacher? According to Dr. Whited, “You have to love what you teach and have a passion for sharing ideas with people. Part of the fun is finding that little point of contact, even if they think they don’t like to read – but maybe whatever the topic they are still interested in it, or troubled by it, or irritated by it, or something? It’s a lot of fun when you see that moment of realization in their eyes.”
When it comes to classroom structures and teaching styles, Dr. Whited is no stranger to experimentation. “I think I’ve tried everything at one time or another, and everything works at different times. The problem isn’t so much having the correct method as it is applying the right method at the right time and trying to read the room. It’s a fascinating challenge.” Through engaging lectures with copious whiteboard notes to interactive role-playing games and thought-provoking questions, he tailors his approach to meet the needs of each unique class. “I’m trying to encourage personal responsibility and to promote self-motivation; sometimes it works!”
Similarly, regarding challenges faced by instructors in our “new normal” educational landscape, Dr. Whited emphasizes the importance of empowering students to think critically and independently as a means of breaking free from a memorization-driven, “teacher dependency” that does little to challenge the mind, and even less to create lasting knowledge. A key takeaway in all of Dr. Whited’s methods goes beyond teaching the literary content itself; it lies in nurturing the skill of attention, in encouraging students to slow down, connect contextual clues, and reach for valid conclusions.
Reflecting on innovative teaching approaches, Dr. Whited shares a memory of his first semester using Hawkes Learning. “Scheduled to teach an ENGL 1101 first-year writing class that I hadn’t taught in years, I met a terrified first-semester freshman group with a lot of writing issues, and I thought, ‘What am I going to do, I don’t have time to teach all this grammar’? Well, Hawkes provided all the material they needed to work outside class time. Immediately, I saw significant improvement in their writing. I’ve required the Hawkes LMS in all my first-year courses ever since.”
With a user-friendly interface and effective mastery-based approach, Dr. Whited continues to utilize Hawkes Learning to enhance his students’ writing skills and provide them with the valuable resources they need to succeed in his course and beyond.
Dr. Stephen Whited displays an unmistakable passion, dedication, and true love for teaching that he hopes can be felt by all of his students. His academic journey and unwavering commitment to fostering young minds stand as irrefutable evidence of his ultimate goal– to create profound and lasting impacts that reach far beyond the confines of the classroom, leaving a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of his students.
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