When EMU assistant professor Ann Orr was the editor of
a children's software magazine, she allowed herself to
be photographed as a "picky teacher" for its cover. Now,
the picture provides much needed comic relief for Orr and
her students.
"I will never forget how nervous I was for her first exam," said
Trish Messing, a former student of Orr's. "To break the
tension in the room, Professor Orr sent around a magazine
with a funny picture of herself with big glasses on the
edge of her nose. This made me laugh and broke the nervousness
that I had so that I could focus on the test."
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TEACHING ASSIST: Ann Orr, an assistant
professor of special education, works with one
her
students, Katie DeBrosse, a senior from
Maumee,
Ohio. Orr is the
recent recipient of the
Ronald W. Collins Distinguished
Faculty
Teaching I Award. |
Orr, from the department of special education, is the
2007 recipient of the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty
Teaching I Award. The award is given to exemplary teachers
who have been at EMU for less than five years. Orr received
a plaque and a $3,500 honorarium.
"I was surprised and very humbled to be honored with this
award," said Orr. "There are extraordinary teachers in
every department. I learn so much from my fellow faculty
members."
Orr's area of expertise is assistive technology — technology
designed to help students with disabilities. Her survey
course covers all disability areas, including hearing aids
and closed captioning for the hearing impaired; text readers
for the visually impaired; and software for the learning
disabled.
"I teach them to analyze the needs of the student," said
Orr. "You figure out the barrier between the student and
the content you're trying to teach them, and use technology
to reduce those barriers."
In order to expose her students to various assistive technologies,
Orr has organized an assistive technologies lab. The lab
is stocked with state-of-the-art programs and is available
to everyone in the special education department. Orr willingly
gives up her free time to demonstrate software and serve
as "tech support" for students or colleagues in the lab.
"My goal is to get pre-service teachers comfortable with
a variety of technology and teach them to think creatively
about how to use it in the classroom," said Orr.
One of Orr's favorite memories is of a student who crawled
on top of a table to reach the plugs and cables at the
back of a malfunctioning computer. Instead of chastising
her for crawling on the furniture and fiddling with the
computer, Orr praised the student for her initiative and
self-confidence.
"When it comes to technology, I try to model, as well
as praise, a 'roll-up-your-sleeves and jump right in' attitude," said
Orr.
A favorite assignment of Orr's students is the technology
resource binder. Students create a technology desk reference
book that they can keep with them throughout their teaching
careers.
"I get good feedback from past students who are now teaching
in the classroom," said Orr. "They tell me that they often
reference and continue to add to their binders. Some even
have colleagues asking to use their binders."
Orr has found that making the "human connection" with
her students helps motivate and improve their academic
performance. She takes the time to learn their names, takes
interest in their lives and makes herself available outside
of the classroom, attending sporting events, performances
and such. In addition, Orr will serve as grand marshal
for this semester's commencement ceremony.
"I have developed an enormous respect and admiration for
EMU students and how hard they work, both in and out of
school," said Orr. "Almost all of my students have at least
one job and many of them are parents. They are very focused
and hardworking, and a joy to work with."
Even when she's not teaching, Orr's love of technology
and assisting students is evident. Orr is a volunteer with
Mott Children's Hospital, working to bring computers to
all patient bedsides and mentoring two EMU students who
are interns there. She also is starting a nonprofit organization
to refurbish and distribute computers to low-income schools
and families.
"This is the perfect job for me," said Orr. "I found a
home for my combined passions of teaching, learning and
technology."
