Instructor Spotlight – Professor Christos Noutsos from SUNY – Old Westbury

Professor Christos Noutsos has been teaching since 2017 and has been using Hawkes Learning’s Biology courseware in his courses for three semesters. When asked about what inspired a career in teaching, Professor Noutsos reflected on his childhood. He grew up in Vrisochori (Βρυσοχώρι), Greece. It was in “Gymnasio” (what could be compared to “middle school” in Greece) that he was drawn to learning more about plants and their biology. He considers this time period of his life as what sparked a desire to teach others about biology and what led him to pursue the goal of being a part of an institution that would allow him to both teach and conduct research. He expressed that his current institution gives him this opportunity now. Professor Noutsos also shared a memory of when he had the opportunity to participate in a field trip where his uncle led a lesson in how to cultivate plants. This example sparked creativity, leading to his teaching style today that surrounds helping students become hands-on with their learning.

 

We asked Professor Noutsos what he would consider to be the most valuable lesson he has learned as a teacher. He replied, “The most important thing I’ve realized is that we are dealing with humans… so I think the most important thing is patience; it’s the best approach to reach the students.” He has certainly applied patience in his teaching, as he described exploring different classroom styles throughout his career. He has found that lectures on their own are not as effective, so he employs a combination of lecture with hands-on learning experiences. He has also used the flipped classroom approach, having students choose a topic and present in class on their topic.

Through these adaptations, he has found that the broader umbrella of active learning is what is working best for today’s students. He believes that the students’ biggest challenge is to balance all their responsibilities, so it is important to provide strong structure for them when possible.

Challenges and Solutions for the Modern Classroom

When asked what he believes to be instructors’ greatest challenge today, Professor Noutsos explained that it can be challenging to engage students properly with the material. He emphasized that discovering what best supports each student requires compassion, active outreach, dedication, and patience.

Professor Noutsos explained that his courses have smaller class sizes. This aids in promoting hands-on learning and student engagement within the classroom, as it allows him to get to know his students rather quickly. As he gets to know his students, he learns how to guide them in making meaningful connections between the lecture material and their corresponding lab work.

He also has taken an alternative approach to his office hours. In the past, he held traditional office hours within his office on campus. Recently, he has started hosting office hours at the campus café and campus library. By being in a more casual environment, he feels that the students are more comfortable asking their questions.

How Hawes Supports Students & Instructors like Prof. Noutsos

Affordability and thorough coverage of topics are what have kept Professor Noutsos coming back each semester. He appreciates that students can use the same Biology courseware in both the Biology I and II courses. He also loves that the students have lifetime access to the courseware for continued learning.

“The students also love the depth of the book and the style that the platform uses… They like the fact that they can Certify themselves,” Professor Noutsos shared. He went on to say that the Hawkes Support Team has made a difference to him as an instructor, expressing that the 24/7 Live Chat has been extra helpful during late-night questions and on weekends. Professor Noutsos expressed that having a Hawkes Student Ambassador on campus has also provided significant additional support to the students.

He has found that one-to-one training meetings with his Hawkes Customer Success Specialist have been beneficial, as they help him set up his entire semester in a single meeting, helping lift a large burden for him in semester preparations. He has especially enjoyed the “Assignment Reminder” feature, which allows instructors to set up automatic assignment reminder emails to be sent to the students throughout the term.

“The flexibility is huge – I can choose what I want for my course. I can do that in a very straightforward and easy way. I don’t have to spend hours… I can go exactly where I need to go.”

When asked what advice he’d give to new Hawkes instructors, Professor Noutsos said, “Take advantage of the one-to-one sessions. It will save a lot of time throughout the semester. Take the time to explore the platform, because there is so much you can get out of it to help you evaluate your students.”