Cynthia Osborn, Ph.D., lifespan development and educational sciences professor, is building confidence through stress balls. Well, stress balls and innovative teaching techniques she has honed for nearly 26 years. This process and enthusiasm has earned this professor of counselor education and supervision the Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA). The award is sponsored by the Kent State University Alumni Association and is the highest teaching award a tenured or tenure-track professor can receive.
“It's still kind of surreal, but it's certainly very meaningful, particularly knowing that the nomination came from former students,” Osborn said.
Osborn teaches in the Counselor Education and Supervision Program and often works in long five-hour classes. She enjoys finding interesting ways to keep students engaged and active in conversation. In some instances, she’ll use props.
One of the things she missed during the pandemic were her stress balls. Osborn was excited to come back to campus because she enjoys tossing them to students when having discussions in class.
“I want my students to be engaged in and — not just comprehend the material — but appreciate the material. I want them to say, ‘yes, I get it, and I also value what I'm learning,’” Osborn said. “I want them to develop confidence in themselves, so they can put this valued learning into actual practice.”
Because of the nature of counseling courses, she also enjoys putting students in small groups to work on specific skills.
Over the years, Osborn has also expanded her teaching repertoire.
“I've done this for a while, but I've been more deliberate about inviting people from outside class to come in and portray a client,” Osborn said. “That gives students an opportunity to practice within a safe environment with somebody they've never met before.”
One student who nominated Osborn for the award praised her organization and communication skills.
“Dr. Osborn is always effectively finding new ways to communicate examples to her students with innovation and diversity. This, I believe, is the true hallmark of a stupendous teacher. When I say innovative, I truly mean so,” a student nominator wrote.
Another student nominator wanted to highlight Osborn as a leader because she gives real world examples and teaches valuable lessons.
“What blows me away in particular about Dr. Osborn is just her ability to be more than a teacher who stands in a classroom. She is an empathetic leader who is always engaging effectively with her students,” the student nominee wrote. “She is constantly asking questions about our progress, offering examples of the lessons she is teaching in creative metaphors, and she states these metaphors with enthusiasm.”
This is the first big award Osborn has received and she talked about the honor she feels.
“It's a real honor. It's not like I'm in the first few years of my career, so it’s just very gratifying,” Osborn said.
All three DTA honorees were acknowledged at the University Teaching Council’s Fall Celebration of Teaching Conference on Friday, Oct. 21.
To read more about the school of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs/ldes.
To read more about the Counselor Education and Supervision Program, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs/ldes/ces.